DOJ set to file raps vs 90 MILF, BIFF men

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) will file charges against 90 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) for the death of 35 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) 55th company.

Commandos from SAF 55th who served as blocking force were those killed by Moro rebels in the cornfield in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said their eyewitness Codename Marathon is a third party witness who positively identified the MILF and BIFF fighters in the cornfield.

“Based on the findings and positive identification, especially by ‘Marathon’, we will file charges against the 90 suspects [consisting] of MILF and BIFF [members],” de Lima said at a press conference.

While de Lima refused to identify the MILF and BIFF members recommended to be slapped with a criminal complaint, a source privy to the investigation said the witness identified some MILF commanders namely Kumander Maku, Kumander Ben Tikaw, Kumander Salik Kikok, Kumander Rifi, Kumander Anife, Kumander Resbak, Kumander Tamano and Kumander Haumves.

The witness said the MILF commanders joined forces with the BIFF guerrillas to neutralize the SAF commandos. The BIFF commanders involved in the incident were Kumander Bisaya, a certain Muslimin Amilil and a certain Maroks Nanding.

Meanwhile, de Lima said the DOJ-NBI team was given another two months to conduct a fact-finding probe on the death of the nine SAF troopers from the 84th company that neutralized international terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan, the death of five civilians and 18 MILF members.

De Lima explained that the panel was not able to make a recommendation because there was no witness.

“Yung sa nine members of the 84^th SAF, sa civilian and MILF casualties hindi pa ho kasama simply because wala pa kaming nahanap o na-access na witness,” de Lima said. AC