Security officials inspect police weapons surrendered by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 in Maguindanao province in southern Philippines. MILF rebels took the weapons from 44 Special Action Force commandos they killed in fierce clashes in Mamasapano town on January 25, 2015.Among those who also witnessed the handover of weapons were Brig.Gen. Carlito Galvez, Maj Gen. Dato Abd Samad bin Yaakub, Head of Mission of the International Monitoring Team, Senior Supt. Noel Armill, of the regional police force. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Mark Navales)
MAGUINDANAO – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has signed a peace deal with Manila, surrendered on Wednesday at least 16 weapons it took from slain police commandos following deadly clashes last month in Maguindanao province in the restive Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao.
But the surrender of the weapons further bolstered accusations by lawmakers and human rights groups that MILF rebels had finished off wounded Special Action Force commandos and collected their guns, among others, in the village of Tukanalipao in Mamasapano town.
A video clip uploaded on Facebook also showed one gunman shooting several times a wounded SAF commando in Tukanalipao where the elite police unit killed Malaysian bomber Zulkifli bin Hir deep inside MILF territory on January 25.
Philippine military chief General Gregorio Catapang led security officials in the weapons, mostly automatic rifles, including two machine guns, inside the headquarters of the 6th Infantry Division in Maguindanao. Among those who also witnessed the handover of weapons were Brig.Gen. Carlito Galvez, Maj Gen. Dato Abd Samad bin Yaakub, Head of Mission of the International Monitoring Team, Senior Supt. Noel Armill, of the regional police force,
The weapons were handed over to the police, but SAF sources claimed the guns had been tampered and that many of its parts were either taken out or replaced with defective mechanism.
Mohagher Iqbal, an MILF vice chairman and chief peace negotiator of the group, said the handover of the weapons was a gesture of their sincerity to the peace process. He also denied media reports quoting him as saying that renewed hostilities may breakout in the restive region if the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law is rejected by Congress.
Lawmakers shelved the BBL until investigations into the deadly clashes between SAF and MILF is completed. Police commandos were on their way to re-join their more than 300 SAF members after killing Zulkifli and cutting off his finger for DNA analysis when MILF forces, aided by Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, attacked them and sparking daylong clashes.
At least 18 MILF and five BIFF were killed in the fierce fighting that the Aquino government claimed was a mis-encounter. Muslim human rights groups also claimed that 7 civilians were also killed by the police, but this could not be independently confirmed.
The MILF signed a peace deal with the Aquino government last year and the recent fighting is now threatening not only the peace process, but the presidency of Aquino as public outcry for his weak leadership continues to mount.
The viral video of the killing of the wounded SAF commando, shared by Zaldy Balds Suson on his Facebook page, drew angry comments from those who have watched the clip. It was unknown how Suson got hold of the clip, but other Facebook accounts also posted the same video.
“And you say you want peace? You don’t even respect humans and you don’t act like humans. No wonder your place is like hell,” wrote Son Retamalliv.
WinYeon Nam said: “Putashet talga oh! Sana sa susunod na bumagyo, Jan sa mga bwisit na lungga ng mga yan! Tamaan pa sana ng kidlat. Mga dimonyo.”
Vincent Lee Rana Bengal said the wounded commando who was finished off by the gunman in the video was believed PO2 Amman Esmula. “If hindi ako nagkakamali at kung totoo ito na sa Mamasapano parang si PO2 Amman Esmula ito,” he said.
“Grabe naman to! Sabi sa (Senate) hearing (on Mamasapano clash) nila hindi daw malapitan ang barilan ng SAF bakit sa video na to may pinatay ng .45-pistol,” asked Caranthir Calaelen Celebrindal.
Lawmakers also joined the police in demanding the surrender of MILF rebels involved in the killing of SAF commandos. But the MILF is unlikely to surrender those that took part in the clashes. (Mindanao Examiner – With a report from Mark Navales)
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