Palace mum on MILF report justifying SAF slay

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang won't comment on the report of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the January 25 Mamasapano encounter that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos dead.

"We leave it to [the Department of Justice] to determine how the MILF report will be relevant to their investigation," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte told Palace reporters in a text message on Wednesday.

The SAF troopers launched the operation to neutralize Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and his Filipino cohort Basit Usman in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The police commandos clashed with MILF rebels, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups that led to the deaths of 44 SAF men, 18 rebels and five civilians.

In its 35-page report submitted to the Senate on Tuesday, the MILF effectively justified the killing of the SAF commandos and the looting of their firearms, equipment and personal belongings.

The MILF insisted that the rebels only defended themselves since the SAF troopers fired first and broke the ceasefire between the Moro group and the government.

The MILF also claimed in its report that they did not coddle Marwan and Usman and that no unnecessary force or methods against international rules on warfare were used against the SAF troopers.