Senate to hear Bangsamoro bill, discuss MILF report

Ayee Macaraig

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Senate to hear Bangsamoro bill, discuss MILF report
The Senate will resume hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law after receiving the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) report into the Mamasapano tragedy

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate will resume hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law after receiving the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) report into the Mamasapano tragedy.

Senate local government chairman Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr said he will continue tackling the bill on April 13 even while the Senate is on session break.

“Since I have received the MILF report and I already have the report of the Board of Inquiry and also the Senate report, I can now resume the hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law,” Marcos said on Tuesday, March 24.

Marcos and Senate public order committee chairperson Grace Poe received copies of the MILF report on Tuesday, a week after the Senate released its draft findings on the deadly encounter that endangered the peace process.

In tackling the bill, Marcos said on top of his agenda is strengthening the ceasefire mechanism, a key point of discussion during the Senate hearings into the January 25 clash. (DOCUMENT: Bangsamoro Basic Law Primer)

“Because what happened in Mamasapano was, as early as 5:30 am to 6 am on that Sunday, the MILF was already told that it’s the government troops that they were firing at. But the total ceasefire was only achieved around 4 pm., that’s almost 11 hours. If it only took 11 minutes to implement the ceasefire, then, some lives could have been saved,” he said.

Several lawmakers questioned the delay in implementing the ceasefire, saying the MILF already knew early on January 25 that it was fighting government forces. The rebel group responded that it was difficult to stop the fighting as its members acted in self-defense, and saw fellow rebels die.

Marcos made the submission of the reports of the Senate, the MILF, and the police Board of Inquiry (BOI) a condition for the resumption of the hearings on the bill.

The bill aims to create an expanded region with more powers and resources than the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The creation of the Bangsamoro political entity is aimed at ending 4 decades of fighting and poverty in Muslim Mindanao. It is a priority measure of the Aquino administration.

The measure became unpopular after the clash between elite cops and Moro rebels. The operation to arrest terrorists in the MILF stronghold of Mamasapano, Maguindanao led to the death of 67 Filipinos when Moro rebels and armed groups engaged the policemen in a daylong firefight. The MILF blamed the lack of coordination as a factor behind the heavy death toll. (READ: Public misinformed about BBL, says peace panel head)

In its report, the MILF said that it was the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers that first fired on its members.

The MILF also said it was not clear that its members were the ones who shot at the commandos at close range. The group said it is not liable for violating international human rights law.

Poe to tackle ‘contradictory findings’

Like Marcos, Poe welcomed the submission of the MILF report but noted that its findings were “contradictory” to the Senate report. (FULL TEXT: MILF report on Mamasapano)

The Senate report branded the clash a “massacre,” and blamed the MILF for putting “finishing touches” on the SAF members who were wounded in the firefight. The Poe-drafted report also questioned the sincerity of the MILF, calling the peace process a “casualty” of the encounter.

Poe said she stands by her committee report.

“However, as I announced previously, amendments may be proposed and considered when we resume session in May. How the MILF report should be treated, considering certain findings of fact which are contradictory to a portion of ours, shall also be discussed by the joint committees,” Poe said in a statement on Wednesday.

The senator said it was “understandable” that the MILF and the Senate had different findings.

“We have divergent views on certain issues and events, particularly on the nature and gravity of the killing of the members of the 55th SAC. This may be because we had access to different sets of witnesses or we have a different appreciation of facts,” she said.

With the clashing conclusions, Poe said it will be up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to determine how to act on the findings.

“It is more imperative for the DOJ to expedite and finish its investigation, identify the culpable individuals, and prosecute them accordingly,” she said.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said her department is still conducting its own investigation into the incident.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) also has not yet finished its probe but said that the Senate report was “based on emotions,” questioning its use of the term “massacre” and conclusions against the MILF. – Rappler.com

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