PEACE ADVOCATES UNITE FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE. Peace and social justice advocates led by former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, Atty. Christian Monsod and Akbayan Chairperson Risa Hontiveros reiterated their call to render justice to all those who perished in the Mamasapano incident and for lasting peace in Mindanao.
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Ad Hoc Joint Action Group of the government peace panel on Thursday said government forces still needed to coordinate with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front even if they were pursuing high value targets such as international terrorists in MILF territory.
In a statement, AHJAG Chair Brig. Gen. Manolito Orense said there was a misunderstanding in the rule after former presidential adviser on Mindanao affairs Jesus Dureza posted a supposed exception in social media.
“We wish to correct erroneous and misleading statements made by Mr. Jesus Dureza in a social networking site claiming that the ceasefire agreement and the implementing guidelines between the GRP and MILF ‘clearly never required prior coordination in operations against high value, priority targets.’ This is not true,” Orense said.
The AHJAG is the coordination mechanism between the GPH and the MILF as regards criminal and terrorism activities with MILF presence.
He added that Dureza said that some documents he signed back in 2001 as government peace panel chair excluded operations against high value targets.
The document supposedly reads: “Except for operations against high priority targets, a list of which shall be provided by the GPH Panel to the MILF Panel, the AHJAG shall inform the GPH and MILF CCCH at least 24 hours prior to the conduct of the AFP/PNP operations in order to allow sufficient time for the evacuation of civilians and to avoid armed confrontation between the GPH and MILF forces.”
Orense said Dureza misread the document which actually says there should be coordination with the MILF regardless of whether the targets were high-priority
“Klaro ang ating guidelines. Walang exception. Kailangan na laging makipag-ugnayan o mag-coordinate bago ang isang law enforcement operation,” he said.
“Kapag hindi high-priority target, dapat hindi kukulang sa 24 oras na pakikipag-ugnayan, at kung high priority target naman, pwedeng mas maiksi, basta sapat ang panahon na makalikas ang civilians at armadong miyembro ng MILF. Nang sa ganoon, maiwasan natin ang armadong kumprontasyon,” he added.
Orense also appealed to Dureza to be more prudent in making statements that could mislead the public and damage ties between the GPH and the MILF.
Dureza’s citing of the supposed “exception” came after the government launched a massive operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao to neutralize two international terrorists considered as high priority targets.
During the operation, no coordination was made between the Philippine National Police Special Action Force and the MILF. At least 44 killed commandos were killed in what government authorities called “a misencounter.” (MNS)