MILF to talk after its own inquiry

COTABATO CITY—No decision has been made yet on whether or not any of the top officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would attend hearings in Congress, particularly the Senate, on the Jan. 25 clash between Moro guerrillas and police commandos following a covert operation to get international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan.”

The clash killed 44 commandos, 18 guerrillas and four civilians.

At a Senate hearing on Monday, a representative of MILF said the rebel group is sending Mohaqher Iqbal to attend future hearings after senators demanded Iqbal’s, or any MILF leader’s, presence at the hearing.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, said in a phone interview that MILF is still investigating the clash and does not have a complete picture yet.

MILF earlier said its members are not at fault because they, too, were surprised at the presence of members of the Special Action Force (SAF) in MILF area on Jan. 25.

Asked whether or not that statement is still valid, Jaafar said: “I can’t say anything right now related to the Mamasapano incident.”

He said MILF is still wrapping up its investigation.

The only time MILF could answer questions on the clash in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao province is after its own investigation has been finished.

Jaafar said MILF continues to adhere to the peace process.

“I assure the people that peace is still our main policy. We will continue to negotiate with the government for the settlement of the problem,” Jaafar said.

“One thing for sure also, we will not compromise the peace process. It is sacred to us,” he added.

MILF is being accused of coddling terrorists, including Filipino Basit Usman.

Eid Kabalu, former MILF spokesperson, said he, too, believed Usman is still in Maguindanao possibly in an area controlled by MILF.

He said “only a small portion of Maguindanao is not under MILF.”

Kabalu said Usman is probably very mobile now as he tries to avoid being detected or arrested.

“It would be difficult for him not to move around because of the situation,” he said.

The MILF has said it has given orders to its ground forces to determine if Usman is inside any MILF area.

Jaafar said Usman is being treated as a criminal by MILF.

Jaafar said under the agreement on the formation of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (Ahjag), MILF was mandated “to effect the apprehension and arrest of suspected criminal elements” within MILF areas.

Earlier, an Inquirer source, who works with the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and part of a team in Central Mindanao that helped plan the assault on Marwan, said Usman had been seen in Pusaw, near Libutan in Mamasapano on Feb. 7. Pusaw is a known MILF area.

Kabalu said he also received a similar report from his sources in the field.

But Iqbal, MILF peace negotiator, said while MILF wants to arrest Usman, they did not know where he is.

The supposedly breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) had denied that it is keeping Usman. Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao