PNP probers fail to meet MILF commanders

COTABATO, Philippines – Police investigators probing a deadly police operation that claimed the lives of 65, including 44 elite cops, were unable to meet with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders on Tuesday, February 24, during a scheduled trip to central Mindanao.

Here to visit Mamasapano was the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s Board of Inquiry (BOI), a group formed to investigate the circumstances surrounding “Oplan Exodus,” a January 25 operation to neutralize Jemaah Islamiyah member Zulkifli bin Hir (alias “Marwan”) and bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman.

The top-secret operation saw 73 troopers from the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) enter Mamasapano town in the wee hours of the morning. During a botched extrication operation, the troopers found themselves in an encounter with fighters from the MILF, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, as well as members of private armed groups.

BOI members, led by its chairman Police Director Benjamin Magalong, were set to meet with “high-ranking” officials of the MILF on Tuesday but the interview did not push through.

“Hindi talaga pwede na direct sila makipag-usap sa base commands. Kung gusto nila makipag-usap dapat mag-request sila formally sa peace panel dahil yan naman talaga ang tamang proseso ng mechanism ng peace process,” MILF vice chairman for military affairs Von Al-Haq explained to Rappler in an interview on Tuesday.

(They are not allowed to speak directly to the base commands. If they want to speak to base commanders, they should send a formal request to the peace panel because that is the correct mechanisms of the peace process.)

“Ganoon rin sa amin kung may gusto kami makausap sa gobyerno idadaan namin sa peace panel,” he added. (It’s the same process we go through when we want to speak to the government.)

But according to Magalong, the PNP reached out to the MILF through the joint Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) of the government and the Moro group.

He told reporters the BOI has confirmed the participation of the MILF’s 118th, 105th and 106th Base Commands in the January 25 clash. “We hope we can talk directly to an MILF field commander so we can get also their side,” Magalong said.

“Around 700 to 800 armed MILF were involved in the fighting,” he added.

The meeting did not happen. (READ: Mamasapano: Breakdown of trust, leadership)

“Posibleng dahil hindi nila maintindihan ng lubusan ang mechanisms ng peace process o baka ina-undermine lang nila ito. Or both,” said Al-Haq of the PNP BOI.

(It’s also possible that they don’t understand the mechanisms of the peace process properly of maybe they are undermining it. Or both.)

The BOI is about to wrap up its probe into the January 25 operation, the bloodiest in the PNP’s young history. Adding to the controversy surrounding the operation is the involvement of suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, who has since resigned. (READ: The many answers to ‘Oplan Exodus’)

PNP Officer-in-Charge Deputy Dir Gen Leonardo Espina and Interior Chief Manuel Roxas II were kept out of the loop by relieved SAF commander Police Director Getulio Napeñas, under the supposed orders of Purisima.

President Benigno Aquino III is also under fire for his supposed involvement in the operation and for being in close contact with Purisima in the planning and execution of “Oplan Exodus.” The military has also been accused of failing to save the beleaguered SAF troopers inside Mamasapano.

Part of the BOI’s investigation includes conducting interviews and collecting affidavits from key personalities in the operation – from policemen, soldiers to local government officials.

Magalong told reporters they had just finished interviewing Espina for at least 2 hours. –  with reports from Bea Cupin, Karlos Manlupig and Jeoffrey Maitem/Rappler.com