De Lima: SAF to be investigated too for MILF deaths

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Wednesday, March 4, the police organization’s Special Action Force (SAF) should also be held accountable if the deaths of Moro rebels and civilians in Mamasapano are proven true.

The SAF is not exempted from the “objective, thorough, and balance investigation” of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) into the January 25 Mamasapano, Maguindanao, incident, where 44 police commandos, 18 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and at least 3 civilians died.

The SAF troopers were on a mission targetting international terrorists Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman in an area known to be the stronghold of the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter.

While exiting the area, the police commandos were attacked by Moro rebels, reportedly including MILF members. The MILF, which is engaged in peace talks with the government, said its fighters were helping out the SAF commandos, but refuses to turn over these fighters to a government-led investigation.

“So even if ang talagang hinihintay natin ay katarungan for the SAF 44, huwag ho naman nating kalimutan na may sinasabi din po ang MILF na meron din silang mga biktima, at may biktima ring mga civilians. So ‘yun ang gusto naming tingnan din, di lang ‘yung tungkol sa SAF kundi mga biktima rin from the other side,” said De Lima, who used to chair the Commission of Human Rights.

(While we want to achieve justice for the SAF 44, let’s not forget that the MILF claims there were also victims on their side, and there were civilian victims. That’s what we want to look into, not just the side of the SAF but the victims from the other side as well.)

De Lima admitted, however, that unless the MILF cooperates with the NBI, the agency cannot verify the rebel group’s claim that there were casualties among its fighters. So far, the MILF has not presented evidence of its members’ deaths.

“I hope to relay to them the message na titingnan din namin ‘yun (pagkamatay ng mga MILF rebels). Baka isipin nila one-sided itong investigation. No. Dapat balanced ito (investigation) kasi nga we have to know ‘yung buong pangyayari,” she said.

(I hope to relay the message to the MILF that we are looking as well into the deaths of its members. They shouldn’t thikn this is a one-sided investigation. No, this is a balanced probe, because we have to know the whole story.) 

“We would prefer that we deal directly with the MILF and MILF hierarchy, whoever their focal person will be. We would prefer that we ourselves evaluate the statements that are with them,” De Lima said in a mix of English and Filipino.

De Lima refused to identify the “vital witness or witnesses” that the NBI had been talking to about the Mamasapano clash. There were earlier reports about an MILF combatant whom the NBI interviewed in Mindanao last week.

The witness can reportedly identify comrades who were involved in the Mamasapano clash.

De Lima said the NBI team will speak to more witnesses in Maguindanao once the military clears the area for their field work. 

The justice secretary had given the investigating team 60 days to complete its work. – Rappler.com