Chiz after watching Mamasapano video: Massacre not misencounter

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Friday condemned the heartless individuals behind the uploading of a video that went viral, showing how Special Action Force (SAF) officers were executed by Moro rebels during the bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.

After watching the video, Escudero surmised that the 44 SAF men killed in the encounter were massacred.

“The Mamasapano tragedy is clearly a massacre, and not a misencounter,” Escudero said. “Stop calling the Mamasapano tragedy a misencounter, as it is now clear that it was a massacre as revealed by the gruesome video showing how the SAF officers were brutally executed by armed men."

When news of the Mamasapano encounter erupted, Palace officials described the incident as a “misecounter” between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government troopers.

“This is disturbingly brutal and barbaric and has no place in a civilized society. Conscience and humanity has totally escaped these people and justice must be exacted at all cost,” Escudero added.

At the same time, Escudero challenged anew the leadership of the MILF to prove that it is committed to peace by surrendering those responsible for the killing of the 44 SAF men.

“I strongly challenge the sincerity and intent of the MILF: identify and surrender your men before the bar of justice. This is part of your commitment to the peace agreement,” Escudero said in a statement.

“Now if you say they are not from your ranks but from the other armed groups, you are still duty-bound to identify and surrender these people who committed the crime,” the senator added.

Escudero said the quest for peace had already taken a long and arduous process, cognizant of the steps taken by the government to arrive at a peace agreement.

“Now, we put to task the MILF to do something, however difficult it may be for them, to help clean the gap and turn in the perpetrators of the Mamasapano massacre. As early as now, help clean the gap between peace and violence,” he said.

The Muslim rebels claimed that fighting between the MILF and the SAF men erupted because the government troops did not adhere to the concept of “stepping on the line.”

“They (MILF forces) insist that this 'stepping on the line be' strictly enforced and respected. But clearly, the rebel group stepped on the line of justice which is a grave and inexcusable error especially in the midst of a peace pact,” the senator said.

Escudero had chided Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles for apparently acting like the spokesperson of the MILF instead of pushing the agenda of the Philippine government.

“Our peace panel representatives cannot toe the line of the government and at the same time be the mouthpiece of the MILF by saying they understand how difficult the situation is with the MILF. You are not between a rock and a hard place; you are in the government. Don’t forget that,” Escudero said.