Bloody clash in Maguindanao has no adverse impact on the peace process in Lanao

Bloody clash in Maguindanao has no adverse impact on the peace process in Lanao

By PHIL PA-ALAN

Iligan City (January 28, 2015) -  2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade Commander, Col. Gilbert I. Gapay today  stressed that the bloody encounter in Maguindanao had no adverse impact on the peace process in Lanao as he conveyed his sympathy and condolences to the  families who lost their loved ones at the height of the encounter. Col. Gapay made the statements in a press conference in the presence of representative from the Lanao Ceasefire Committee, the International Monitoring Team, the Local Monitoring Team, and other ranking military officials held at the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade Headquarters at Maria Cristina, here.

Brigade Commander Gapay said the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are closely coordinating each other with the help of allies from Malaysia and other countries who are members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) with their counter parts in the Local Monitoring Team to prevent the escalation of the conflict and ensure that the peace process in Mindanao will be a success.  He said the peace process in Lanao and the ceasefire on the ground still hold.  He added that what happened in Maguindanao does not affect the peace process in Lanao and the people on the ground.  He said the military abides with the protocol on ceasefire as he reiterated that the bloody incident did not have any adverse impact on the peace process.  He said the ceasefire mechanism is still in place.  He continued that  the MILF Ceasefire Committee, the Local Monitoring Team, the International Monitoring Team, and the civil society organizations in Lanao continue to support the on-going peace process.

Col. Gapay was referring to the bloody clash between the MILF and the government forces in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Sunday, where the  Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP- SAF) clashed with the 105th Base Command of the MILF at Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25, 2015 at around 6:00 in the morning.  The PNP-SAF operation was in the area to serve the warrants of arrest for Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli Bin Hir, known as “Marwan” and BasitUsman of Jemaah Islamiah, but unfortunately due to lack of coordination with the local government and the MILF group in the area, the bloody encounter occurred.

Marwan’s capture carries a US $ 5 million bounty for his terrorist attacks, which earned him a spot in the most wanted terrorist list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The bloody clash at Mamasapano, Maguindanao resulted into the death of at least forty-four (44) elite cops, while eight (8) MILF fighters were also killed. The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office has reported 560 families or about 2,236 persons were displaced as of January 26, 2015 due to the bloody encounter.  The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are staying in evacuation centers, some are home based, while still others stayed in make-shift tents along the road. The bloody clash generated varied reactions from government and private sectors.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the bloody incident would lead to another travel advisory from countries to warn foreigners not to visit the Philippines, as he asked the people to just pray that the Aquino Administration would be able to succeed in its peace talks with the  MILF. Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano warned the government that it must not negotiate with the MILF from a point of weakness.  Cayetano, who withdrew his support for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) said that the government should never allow anyone to get away with murder, regardless of the fact that the peace process with the MILF could be at stake. Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito had also withdrawn his co-authorship of the propose BBL. Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr., chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government has suspended the hearings of his panel regarding the BBL, until the MILF explains its side on the encounter. 

The House Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL has also decided to suspend discussions on the measure’s provisions pertaining to national defense and public order following the clash.  Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, said discussions on the four key issues would not be resumed until the concerned agencies report to the panel.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto assailed the MILF for allegedly harboring Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, and his cohort Basit Usman that were targets of the police operation in Maguindanao.  Recto said if it is true that the MILF is harboring them, they should surrender Marwan and Usman to the authorities.  Malacanang has appealed to lawmakers  to consider the adverse consequences of giving up on the peace process with the MILF at this time. “While recognizing the challenges posed by the violent incident in Maguindanao, it is important to keep in mind the vital objectives of attaining long-term peace, stability and progress in Mindanao,” said Presidential Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.  Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno has called for sobriety in the wake of the bloody clash between the SAF and MILF rebels in Maguindanao.  In a rare statement issued recently, the Supreme Court chief also opposed calls for war pending a government investigation on the incident that killed 44 policemen.

Regional military spokesman Captain Joan Petinglay said that the firefight between police commandos and the MILF happened near the remote town of Mamasapano before dawn Sunday and that ceasefire monitors are now on the ground to separate the forces and remove the casualties. Mohagher Iqbal, the lead MILF negotiator in a landmark peace deal signed in March last year, also confirmed the incident but neither side would say how many fighters were wounded or killed or to whom they belonged.

DILG Secretary Mar Roxas said he hopes that peace in Mindanao will be achieved even after the incident.  He said, “I trust that peace in Mindanao will be achieved when all sides, government and the MILF, as well as our people, will be steadfast in this resolved.  Wala pong kapalit sa hustisya’t kapayapaan. Hindi karahasan ang lunas. (There is no substitute to peace and justice. Violence is not a solution.)”