MILF agrees to talk to DOJ about Mamasapano clash

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO / NOY MORCOSO

MANILA, Philippines — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has agreed to dialogue with a special team from the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash where 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos, 18 rebels and five civilians were killed.

“The MILF leadership has responded and agreed to have a dialogue with us,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters Monday.

De Lima said she would ask them if they already had a report on the incident .

“I am going to personally relate to them our intention, what we are doing. I would appeal anew for their cooperation especially since they are claiming that there were also casualties from their end. We need more particulars,” de Lima said.

The Justice chief wants a copy of the MILF report on the incident to be able to come up with a balanced report, with the other side being the investigation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Board of Inquiry.

BACKSTORY: De Lima: We want to hear MILF’s account of Mamasapano incident

Last week, the MILF said it would only provide the DOJ an executive summary of their report.

“If executive summary, let’s see how it will be useful. I want to know what their plans are and why (they are giving us) only an executive report,” she added.

The dialogue between the MILF and the DOJ special team, composed of members from the National Prosecution Service and the National Bureau of Investigation, will be on Tuesday when the team returns to Maguindanao for an ocular inspection.

De Lima said they would push through with the ocular inspection after they were advised by the military that it was already safe to go to Mamasapano.

The special team earlier cancelled its ocular inspection due to a clash between  the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter in the area.

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