At a media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday, February 4, AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. shows a map where the January 25 Mamasapano clash that killed over 50 people, most of them PNP-SAF commandos, took place. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Wednesday turned over to the government the firearms of Special Action Force troopers slain in a clash in Mamasapano in Maguindanao last Jan. 25.
Wednesday’s turnover was held during ceremonies at Camp Brig. Gen. Gonzalo Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
Handshakes among representatives from the government and the MILF highlighted the turnover of the firearms. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. was among the officials present.
At least 16 firearms, including two machine guns, were included in the turnover. One of the firearms was an M-4 rifle with optics, laser designator and tactical flashlight.
The Philippine National Police-SAF had lost about 63 firearms during the Mamasapano operation.
Forty-four SAF troopers died during the hours-long gunfight with the MILF and its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. The troopers were then on a mission to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan of Jemaah Islamiyah and Filipino bomb maker and Abu Sayyaf member Basit Usman.
Government peace panel chairperson Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said it was not easy to reach this step. “Hindi po madaling makarating sa araw na ito. Tulad po ng mga pamilya ng Special Action Forces, namatayan rin ng guerilla ang mga MILF,” she said.
Aside from the 55th and 84th SAF, she said the MILF also lost guerrillas in the encounter. “Hindi maiiwasan itong paghihinagpis na ito,” she said.
Yet, she commended the parties concerned for returning the firearms instead of treating them as war booty.
Ferrer said the next step will be to document and subject the returned firearms to ballistic tests.
“Ang susunod na mangyayari, pag close ng presscon (ay ang) pagdokumento at imbentaryo at ballistics (tests) ng pulis sa (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group),” she said.
For his part, MILF peace panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal said this shows the MILF “is willing to travel the extra mile” for peace.
“We are willing to travel the extra mile just to ensure the peace process will proceed,” he said, but also asked media to be objective.
Later at the press conference, Iqbal said they will continue checking for other firearms and equipment of the slain SAF men in the MILF’s possession.
“Gaya ng sinabi ko, hindi pa tapos ang efforts ng MILF. Hahanapin pa ang armas… Baka may natira pa sa possession ng MILF. Hahanapin namin ‘yan,” Iqbal said.
Ceasefire committees
Ferrer said the ceasefire committees of both sides met in Cotabato City Tuesday, and proceeded to the site where the first firearm collection took place.
The first batch of firearms was deposited Tuesday night at Kampilan headquarters.
On Wednesday morning, the second batch was collected, she said.
Call to BIFF to return firearms
Ferrer also called on the BIFF to return firearms from the scene as well.
“Panawagan natin siyempre sa ating mga kapatid tulad ng civilians na nakakuha ng gamit: Sana kusang loob ibalik ito,” she added.
International Monitoring Team
For his part, Dato’ Abdul Samad Bin Hu Yaakub, head of mission of the International Monitoring Team, hailed the event, and thanked both chairs of the government and MILF peace panels.
“We hope there will be more confidence-building measures in the near future,” he said.
Catapang, Deles for peace
Catapang said he wants to “win the peace,” as his first assignment was in Sultan Kudarat in 1981.
Presidential Peace Process Adviser Secretary Teresita Deles and AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. attend a press conference on Wednesday, February 18 in Maguindanao following the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s return of firearms of Special Action Force commandos. Raffy Tima
“You must understand how we feel, soldiers who have been here for the longest time, still wanting to win the peace. We have to claim the peace in our country,” he said.
“When I became chief of staff, that was my inaugural speech—that we must claim, not only win, we have to claim the peace in our country,” he said.
For her part, presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles said that because of the Mamasapano incident, “this has been a most difficult challenge our peace process has faced.”
“Mamasapano must be turned from a battleground to a haven for peace. Let not the death of the SAF 44 and other 23 more be in vain,” she said.
Earlier, the MILF said it will return soon the firearms its fighters took from the SAF during the Mamasapano clash.
But the MILF said the firearms it recovered from the clash will not be all the items on the SAF’s list, which amount to P27 million. It said other armed groups also took away some of the items from the SAF.
PNP SAF officer-in-charge Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño’s memorandum to PNP logistics director Director Juanito Vaño Jr. indicated the SAF lost P27 million worth of sophisticated combat equipment.
The list includes:
– 33 Ferfrans/Rockriver assault rifles
– 4 savage sniper rifles
– 4 crew-served weapons (M-60 machine guns)
– 10 Ferfrans M-203 grenade launchers
– 1 90mm recoiless rifle
– 11 short firearms
– 8 Glock handguns
– 2 Berreta handguns
– 1 CZ. (MNS)