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AFP: MILF won’t block prosecution of fighters in Mamasapano clash
By AMANDA FERNANDEZ, GMA News
(UPDATED 7:06 P.M.) The Armed Forces of the Philippines expects the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to help the government in the prosecution of some MILF fighters allegedly involved in the killing of police commandos in the bloody Mamasapano clash on Jan. 25.
"Naniniwala kami na hindi naman haharang ang MILF sa usapin na naaayon sa peace agreement, at ang paghahabol sa mga kriminal ay kasama iyon," AFP public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said in a news briefing on Thursday.
"Magkatulong ang gobyerno at MILF," he added.
On Thursday, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima announced that some MILF members were among the 90 people that were recommended criminally charged for deaths in the Mamasapano incident.
Criminal charges to be filed against those involved in the Mamasapano bloodbath are based on the recommendations of the National Bureau of Investigation and National Prosecution Service.
Also recommended charged were some members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and men from private armed groups.
No crime
In February, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohaqher Iqbal was quoted as saying the group would not surrender its members who figured in the firefight with PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) commandos.
He said the MILF would instead impose sanctions on its members.
"If you look at the ceasefire agreement of the government and the MILF, what it says there, any breach of discipline on the side of the government, the government will discipline their forces," Iqbal said then.
On Thursday, however, Iqbal declined requests for comment.
MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said the MILF needed first-hand information about the DOJ pronouncement before making any comment.
“My initial reaction is let me hear first what she said. Allow me first to get the news first-hand…I will have to get it first-hand before I react,” Jaafar said over the phone.
Jaafar,however, stressed the findings of MILF investigators that its fighters didn't commit any crime in the clash with the commandos.
“That is the official decision of the MILF. They (MILF fighters) did not commit a crime,” Jaafar said.
'Ready to support'
On the other hand, Cabunoc said the military is ready to give support to authorities in serving arrest warrants on the suspects.
"Nakahanda ang AFP na tulungan ang ating agencies na maaaring maatasan upang i-serve ang mga warrant," he said.
"Dagdag pwersa, parati naman natin ito ibinibigay sa PNP at sa NBI at kapag mayroon silang law-enforcement (operation) sa isang lugar, lalo na sa central Mindanao, nakahanda ang mga sundalo na tumulong sa pag-serve ng arrest warrant, magbibigay ng dagdag tropa para hindi sila malagay sa alanganin kapag may kumalaban sa kanila," he added.
Forty-four SAF men were killed in the Mamasapano clash, after one of the commandos' teams neutralized suspected international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.
The anti-terror mission on Jan. 25 was done without coordination with the Moro rebels, despite existing ceasefire deal between the government and the MILF.
In the clash, over 60 people were killed, including 18 MILF fighters and five civilians. — LBG/NB, GMA News
"Naniniwala kami na hindi naman haharang ang MILF sa usapin na naaayon sa peace agreement, at ang paghahabol sa mga kriminal ay kasama iyon," AFP public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said in a news briefing on Thursday.
"Magkatulong ang gobyerno at MILF," he added.
On Thursday, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima announced that some MILF members were among the 90 people that were recommended criminally charged for deaths in the Mamasapano incident.
Criminal charges to be filed against those involved in the Mamasapano bloodbath are based on the recommendations of the National Bureau of Investigation and National Prosecution Service.
Also recommended charged were some members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and men from private armed groups.
No crime
In February, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohaqher Iqbal was quoted as saying the group would not surrender its members who figured in the firefight with PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) commandos.
He said the MILF would instead impose sanctions on its members.
"If you look at the ceasefire agreement of the government and the MILF, what it says there, any breach of discipline on the side of the government, the government will discipline their forces," Iqbal said then.
On Thursday, however, Iqbal declined requests for comment.
MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said the MILF needed first-hand information about the DOJ pronouncement before making any comment.
“My initial reaction is let me hear first what she said. Allow me first to get the news first-hand…I will have to get it first-hand before I react,” Jaafar said over the phone.
Jaafar,however, stressed the findings of MILF investigators that its fighters didn't commit any crime in the clash with the commandos.
“That is the official decision of the MILF. They (MILF fighters) did not commit a crime,” Jaafar said.
'Ready to support'
On the other hand, Cabunoc said the military is ready to give support to authorities in serving arrest warrants on the suspects.
"Nakahanda ang AFP na tulungan ang ating agencies na maaaring maatasan upang i-serve ang mga warrant," he said.
"Dagdag pwersa, parati naman natin ito ibinibigay sa PNP at sa NBI at kapag mayroon silang law-enforcement (operation) sa isang lugar, lalo na sa central Mindanao, nakahanda ang mga sundalo na tumulong sa pag-serve ng arrest warrant, magbibigay ng dagdag tropa para hindi sila malagay sa alanganin kapag may kumalaban sa kanila," he added.
Forty-four SAF men were killed in the Mamasapano clash, after one of the commandos' teams neutralized suspected international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.
The anti-terror mission on Jan. 25 was done without coordination with the Moro rebels, despite existing ceasefire deal between the government and the MILF.
In the clash, over 60 people were killed, including 18 MILF fighters and five civilians. — LBG/NB, GMA News
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