Iqbal takes offense at Cayetano siblings’ harsh tone of questioning

MANILA, Philippines – Moro Islamic Liberation Front negotiating chair Mohagher Iqbal took offense at the manner of questioning by the Cayetano siblings during the continuation of the Senate investigation on the Mamasapano incident.

During their separate interpellation, Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano bombarded Iqbal with questions during the four-hour Senate committee hearing on Tuesday.

A staunch critic of the MILF, Alan Peter quizzed Iqbal on the MILF’s alleged coddling of terrorists without even letting Iqbal finish his sentence. At some point, Iqbal asked Cayetano to slow down with   his “questions being fired like machine guns.”

“Masyadong mabilis ang pagtatanong nila. Hindi ka pa tapos sumagot, ayan na nagsasabi na ng iba. ‘Yun lang nagiging problem doon,” Iqbal told reporters in an ambush interview.

“Dapat ang ibang senador kapag nagtanong may spaces. Kasi pag nagtanong nang tuloy-tuloy at ang dami-dami. Hindi natin na-clarify mga issues,” he said.

Asked if he thinks the Senate was biased against the MILF, he said he leaves that for the people to decide.

“Senate hearing nga para malaman kung anong nangyari. Dapat mahinahon ang pagtanong para masagot natin mga tanong ng mahinahon,” he added.

Since the January 25 incident that killed 44 policemen, the Cayetanos have been vocal about their doubts on the MILF and the group’s sincerity in the peace process.

Meanwhile, Iqbal cried “unfair” to accusation by the Philippine National Police that the MILF “cannibalized” the 16 firearms of the SAF men that were returned by the group to authorities.

Iqbal said all the serial numbers and parts of the firearms have been checked and authenticated before they turned these over to the PNP last week.

“Unfair sa MILF na doon pa sinabi na cannibalize. Eh   mismo sa Awang (Camp Awang of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao) authenticated na. Tsaka na lang sinabi na cannibalize pagdating sa PNP,” he said.

To address the confusion, Iqbal pushed for a separate investigating body to look into the alleged cannibalization.

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