PNP inquiry board to meet with MILF commander over Mamasapano clash

COTABATO CITY - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has agreed to have the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry meet one of its commanders over the Jan. 25 bloody clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

 

On Wednesday, the BOI met with MILF vice chairman Ghadzali Jaafar, who agreed to accompany the team to Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat.

 

"Napagkasunduan namin makausap niya si Commander Wahid out of courtesy to him," Jaafar said, referring to Director Benjamin Magalong, chief of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and chairman of the PNP BOI.

 

Abdul Wahid Tundok is the commander of the MILF 118th Base Command.

 

"Hindi kasali si Wahid (sa clash), alam yan ng marami," Jaafar said.

The MILF unit involved in the clash was the 105th Base Command under Zacaria Goma.

 

The BOI will meet with Wahid to get details of the clash, which involved some members of the MILF as well as combatants from its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

 

The BOI has already talked to SAF members involved in the operation, which was meant to serve arrest warrants on suspected terrorists Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman. Authorities claimed killing Marwan but Usman was able to escape.

 

Jaafar added the meeting was arranged within the protocols of the peace talks with the government.

 

"Kami, nagco-comply kami sa anumang bagay na may kinalaman sa peace process," Jaafar said.

 

The clash, where 44 Special Action Force troopers, 18 MILF fighters, and several civilians died, has derailed peace efforts between the government and the MILF.

 

For one, congressional deliberations on the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which is meant to implement a peace agreement signed with the government last year, have been suspended following the clash .

 

"Walang kasalanan ang BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law), iba yan sa nangyari sa Mamasapano," Jaafar said. — RSJ, GMA News