De Lima respects MILF stance on Mamasapano report

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima conceded to the decision of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) not to directly furnish her office its report on the Mamasapano encounter between their fighters and Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos last Jan. 25.

De Lima said she respects the position of MILF chief Al-Haj Murad that the Department of Justice (DOJ) should course its request of the report through the government peace panel.

“The MILF leadership told us to go through the process and course our request through the CCCH (Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities),” she said.

De Lima had a meeting with Murad last Tuesday during which she sought cooperation from the MILF on the investigation of the DOJ on the firefight in Mamasapano where 44 SAF operatives were killed, along with 18 MILF fighters and five civilians. She had wanted the full report from the MILF.

“They have not rejected our request. They just want that we go through the process. We were not able to see the report, but we discussed several findings,” she said.

De Lima also revealed the MILF was not yet ready with its report as of yesterday.

Despite agreeing to the MILF stand, De Lima said the group should cooperate with the government should the investigation find any liability on its members.

“As prosecutors, we will follow the processes under the law – the Rules of Court. For example, if it will be proven in the investigation that the MILF men are liable, can they ignore that?” she said.

While the MILF are “non-state actors within our state,” De Lima said they are still liable for any criminal offense under the law.

De Lima added the MILF remains a revolutionary organization despite an ongoing peace agreement with the government.

“Up to this point, even if we have a peace process or draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, they remain to be a revolutionary organization,” she said.

De Lima said the conflict between the government and MILF remains though there is a “cessation of hostility.”

De Lima led an ocular inspection of the area of the encounter that will be used in the DOJ report. She went to the site to assess the area and to validate the testimony of the witnesses.

“Until the Bangsamoro (law) is completed, they cannot be considered as subdued from the whole system. They are still a revolutionary group involved in peace talks,” she added.