Gov’t, MILF urged to disclose results of probe into Al-Barka massacre

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Human Rights groups have urged the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to make public the results of their investigation into the October 18 encounter in Al-Barka, Basilan, which resulted in the death of 19 soldiers from the Army’s Special Forces.

Lawyer Zainuddin Malang, executive director of the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (Minhrac), told the Inquirer that the de-classification of the investigation’s results could stifle unfounded suspicions on who started it all.

“This would also put to rest fears among the locals,” he said, adding that the people of Al-Barka fear they would be targeted by the military because they did not know who those being pursued were.

Malang said it was puzzling that the government and the MILF have not released the results of the probe yet even though the investigation was terminated last year.

Nixon Alonzo, executive director of the Basilan Human Rights Center, said the results of the investigation could also help various parties, the government and the MILF to craft measures that would prevent similar clashes.

“We don’t have to make the same mistakes in the future,” he said.

Cynthia Petrigh, a human rights advocate who joined the probe, said the results of the investigation could be released only by the government and the MILF peace panels.

“We submitted the findings and it’s up to them now. It’s not our mandate to release the results,” she said.

Mohagher Iqbal, the MILF peace panel chairman, said the MILF has already agreed to release the findings and it was up to the government to make a similar decision.

Iqbal said the three MILF commanders involved in the clash had been sanctioned with three-month suspension each and were told to undergo a “re-education program” on the ceasefire agreement.

“They are under close supervision of higher-ranking MILF leaders these days,” he said.

Earlier, Armed Forces Chief of Staff  Jessie Dellosa said sanctions were also slapped on several military officers involved in the military operation that resulted in the deaths of the 19 soldiers.

“An internal investigation is still ongoing, some officers were suspended and placed under floating status,” he said without elaborating.