File photo of BARMM regional headquarters
COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao del Norte, Philippines — The Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) has started an investigation into the death of seven Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters killed during a joint police and military operation in Maguindanao del Sur on June 18.
The BHRC decided on an independent probe “to uncover the truth” even it vowed to closely monitor the investigation to be conducted by competent authorities in the bloody police operation in Datu Paglas town, Maguindanao del Sur.
“As an independent Commission mandated to protect and uphold human rights within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, we emphasize the utmost importance of conducting a thorough and impartial investigation into this incident,” the human rights body said in a statement Tuesday.
It added: “We are committed to uncovering the truth, ensuring justice is served, and holding accountable those found responsible for any violations of human rights or unlawful actions,” it added.
It also called on all relevant authorities to “ensure a transparent and impartial investigation into this tragic incident.”
In the same breath, the BHRC urged the police and other law enforcement agencies “to continue strengthening their training programs, with a specific focus on human rights education, cultural sensitivity and understanding the teachings of various religions, including Islam” so “we can foster a culture of respect, tolerance, and accountability within our law enforcement institutions.”
No coordination
Seven men were killed during the serving of search warrants against siblings Nasser and Norjihad Husain inside their family’s compound in Barangay Madidis, Datu Paglas.
The brothers were field officers of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the MILF’s military arm, which was in the process of being decommissioned in keeping with a 2014 peace deal the MILF signed with the government.
Calls for an independent probe and justice to the fallen MILF members mounted as the interim Bangsamoro parliament also called for a fair and impartial probe.
MILF leader Abunawas Maslamama, now a senior minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), disclosed on Tuesday that an initial report showed that the police did not coordinate with the MILF during law enforcement operations in its area as prescribed by the ceasefire agreement.