The official stopped short, however, of answering whether the MILD would surrender rebels involved in the firefight.
In an interview with dzBB Sunday, MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said he cannot comment on the possible turnover of MILF members to authorities.
“Maraming beses ko na kayong sinagot sa bagay na ito. I don’t know if you can understand… We are cooperating with the government, ano pa bang cooperation na kailangan mo na malaman?” an irked Jaafar asked dzBB anchor Rowena Salvacion.
“Naipaliwanag ko na kanina, nagko-cooperate naman kami in accordance with the mechanism established for that purpose. Pero ‘yung ginigiit niyong tanong, sinabi ko na very clear, wala sa poder ko, wala sa aking authority as individual member of the central committee, as vice chairman of the MILF and vice chairman of the central committee,” he added.
The BIFF and the MILF are separate groups.
Discussed with central committee
Earlier in the radio interview, Jaafar was asked if the MILF will turn over the firearms and equipment the rebels reportedly took from members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) during their encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.
Jaafar said the issue will have to be discussed by the MILF central committee first.
“Sa bahagi na ito ay hindi ko masabi [with] finality sapagkat ito ‘yung maging subject ng policy ng central committee. Nakatitiyak kayo na pag-uusapan ito ng central committee ng MILF kung darating sa leadership ng MILF ang ganitong issue,” he replied.
Several members of the House of Representatives and Senate have urged the MILF to turn in members involved in the clash and surrender the SAF members’ seized firearms to prove their sincerity in pursuing the peace process.
The MILF signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government in 2014 after 17 years of negotiations. The comprehensive peace pact became the basis for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law pending in Congress.
Mutually agreed mechanisms
Jaafar said the MILF and the government has managed to maintain good relations throughout the lengthy peace negotiations because of “mechanisms” they have mutually agreed upon.
“Nandiyan ang ceasefire agreement, creation ng ceasefire committee. Mayroong MILF ceasefire committee, GPH ceasefire committee. Nandiyan ang creation ng international monitoring team (IMT) composed of neutral countries kabilang ang Malaysa, Libya, Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, Norway, at mayroon rin pong ADJAG (Ad Hoc Joint Action Group) agreement,” he said.
“Napatunayan na po ilang beses in the past na maganda ang teamwork ng ADJAG, ng GPH (government of the Philippines) at MILF teams,” he said.
The IMT oversees the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the government and MILF.
‘Equal under the law’
In a separate radio interview, Magdalo party-list Rep. Francisco Ashley Acedillo said he was concerned over Jaafar’s statement that the MILF will have to discuss whether to surrender its members involved in the Mamasapano clash.
“Ako po’y nangangamba sa sinasabi nilang pag-uusapan pa [ng MILF ang turnover]. What does that mean? Hindi pa sila kumbinsido na dapat i-turnover nila ‘yung mga tao nila o wala talaga silang control kaya pag-uusapan pa nila kung anong sasabihin nila or aamin ba sila na ganoon?” he said.
Acedillo, a former Air Force lieutenant, said the law should be equally applied to everyone.
“Dapat pare-pareho lang [ang rule of law]. Kapag may lumabag sa batas, they must submit themselves to the judicial process,” he said.
Jaafar said the MILF has a justice mechanism composed of a Sharia court, reconciliation committee, disciplinary board and a military court.
Both the government and the MILF have reiterated their commitment to the peace process. Over the weekend, panels from both sides agreed on a protocol for the decommissioning of MILF forces. — JDS, GMA News
