‘Transitional justice, rule of law tackled in peace talks’

MANILA, Philippines - Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista yesterday gave assurance that transitional justice and the rule of law are being tackled in the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Bautista said the military remains supportive of the peace talks but is also advocating justice for victims of atrocities.

“We support the peace process but we also are after justice, rule of law,” he said. “Both sides are concerned about that and there is an understanding that there should be transitional justice.”

Bautista was asked to react to criticisms that the military is not running after MILF commander Dan Laksaw Asnawi, who was tagged in the killing of 14 Marines in Basilan in 2007.

Asnawi has pending criminal cases but met with some military officials in Mindanao recently without being arrested. He even worked with Col. Carlito Galvez, chief of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade, to end a rido or clan feud in Basilan last Jan. 21.

Previous reports said the MILF forces under Asnawi are supportive of a rido settlement program being implemented by government security forces.

Galvez previously said the cooperation was a “good confidence-building” for the Army and the MILF troops.

Bautista could not give specific details about the “transitional justice” being tackled by the peace panels.

“Let us wait for the final outcome of the negotiations… both sides have decided to end armed struggle,” he said.

Soldiers tried to arrest Asnawi and members of lawless groups in 2011 but this resulted in a clash that claimed the lives of 19 soldiers and wounding of 14 others in Al-Barka, Basilan on Oct. 18, 2011.

Soldiers who figured in the clash were supposed to serve an arrest warrant on Asnawi, a certain Long Malat, and Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama.

The families of the victims have urged the government to run after those behind the encounter.