AFP report inadequate for House probe on Mamasapano clash

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) submitted its investigation report on the Mamasapano clash but it is not enough for the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

In a letter addressed to AFP chief Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang on Tuesday, Ad Hoc committee chair and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez requested for additional information from the military chief.

"The Committee considers your submission as inadequate and should require a more detailed explanation of what transpired on the subject incidents and killings," Rodriguez said in his letter to Catapang.

Some of the questions that the lawmaker posed for the AFP was whether or not they supported and reinforced the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) or if there was an order for the AFP not to give assistance.

The House Committee also wanted to know the extent of participation by the MILF, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), private armed groups and the PNP-SAF during the bloody encounter which lasted for around 12 hours.

The AFP also failed to provide information regarding the alleged alliance of the MILF and the BIFF, as well as the existence of MILF gun factories.

The House Committee also requested the AFP to submit findings on the possible reasons why Zulkifli "Marwan" Abdhir and Abdul Basit Usman were in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The AFP earlier stated that army units provided enough assistance to the PNP-SAF during the encounter with MILF and BIFF, wherein 44 police commandos were killed.

SAF survivors, on the other hand, claimed that the military failed to send reinforcements.

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