De Lima: No MILF report, no justice

MANILA, Philippines - The government has vowed justice for the 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters killed during the clash with elite police in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the department’s investigation is not limited to the killing of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos during the incident last Jan. 25, as it also covers the slain civilians and MILF fighters.

However, De Lima stressed that justice could only be served on the side of the rebel group if the MILF leadership cooperates in the probe.

“It would be better if they really cooperate so that our investigation is balanced, especially since they are claiming that they also lost 18 fighters and several civilians,” she said in an interview.

De Lima has been asking the MILF for its full report on the incident. But the MILF intends to submit its report first to the Malaysian government, which is moderating the ongoing peace talks between the government and the rebel group.

She explained that information from the MILF, such as identities of the victims and proof of death, would be needed in possible criminal cases.

“We are hoping at this point that the MILF will cooperate because really our thrust is to have a balanced, impartial, objective investigation. We want to hear the side of the MILF and their account of the incident because we are expecting the BOI (Board of Inquiry of the Philippine National Police) report as the version of the SAF,” she said.

“There might be different versions of the story, so how can the DOJ come up with credible findings if we considered just one side?” she added.

De Lima said their team, led by assistant state prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, is expected to receive the BOI report today and will also send a follow-up request to the camp of the MILF.

She added that she would no longer release updates of the probe until it has been completed, citing possible repercussions on the ongoing peace talks.

“It’s better that we just release the results of our evaluation and findings at the proper time, instead of piecemeal releases, because this is a very sensitive case. Inasmuch as we would want the (suspects) to face criminal justice system, it is complicated because of the ongoing peace process,” she stressed.

De Lima bared, however, that DOJ probers were able to secure three more videos taken during the incident, which could help identify the killers of the SAF commandos.

The DOJ chief confirmed earlier that their team of prosecutors and National Bureau of Investigation agents were able to gather “very vital” witnesses during their visit in Mamasapano last week.

She, however, neither confirmed nor denied reports that a veteran MILF combatant – close to both Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Filipino terrorist Basit Usman – was among their new witnesses.