MILF to cooperate in inquiry on Maguindanao clash

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front ( MILF) has vowed to cooperate in the ongoing inquiry being conducted by the Philippine National police (PNP) in connection with the firefight in Maguindanao that left 44 police commandos and 18 rebels dead.

Head of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Benjamin Magalong, who chairs the Board of Inquiry, said members of the board are due to interview MILF personalities in Maguindanao next week.

He said they are interviewing the MILF personalities in coordination with the Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities which was established to oversee the implementation of a standing ceasefire between the government and MILF.

Magalong clarified that the objective of the board is merely fact-finding and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to conduct its own probe for the possible filing of charges against the perpetrators.

The board is expected to complete the investigation before Feb. 26, according to Magalong.

On Jan. 25, 44 members of Philippine National Police Special Action Force were killed when they came to Mamasapano town in Maguindanao for a "law enforcement operation" against Zulkifli Bin Hir and Basit Usman and had a series of clashes with MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

The Philippine government and the MILF signed a comprehensive peace agreement in March 2014, to end the decades-long armed conflict in southern Philippines.

Part of the agreement is to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which will be the organic law for the envisioned Bangsamoro government that will replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao by 2016.

The BIFF is the armed wing of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement which broke away from the MILF in 2010 because of disagreements over the peace talks with the government.