Gazmin: MILF report on Mamasapano incident self-serving

MANILA, Philippines—The results of the investigation of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) into the Jan. 25 Mamasapano incident appear to be “very self-serving,” according to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

“I have not completely finished the report but it appears that it’s very self-serving … I cannot give you a complete reaction on the report,” he told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday.

READ: MILF Mamasapano report: Attack of Moro fighters on SAF men ‘justified’

The defense chief said it was hard to believe, for instance, that the MILF did not know that top terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan was just nearby the MILF command.

“It seems impossible that they were not aware (of Marwan’s presence) in their area,” Gazmin said. “It’s their province, normally within five to 10 kilometers you know the people around because they are just few. Unlike in Manila where you don’t know even your own neighbor because there’s just too many people.”

The MILF report justified its members in fighting back as it was allegedly the police troops that fired first. The MILF said they did not know security forces were doing an operation.

They also said they did not know that Marwan and another bombmaker Basit Usman were only a few kilometers away.

The botched operation, blamed on the lack of coordination between security forces and the MILF, killed 44 police officers, 18 MILF members and five civilians.

Gazmin said the MILF men involved in the incident must be sanctioned.

“Kailangan nila harapin ang hustisya dahil sila ay nasasakupan ng saligang batas (They should face justice because they are covered by the Constitution),” he said.

On Wednesday, MILF vice chair Ghazali Jaafar said they would talk to officials of MILF units involved in the incident. It will be decided what kind of disciplinary action will be imposed on them. RC

READ: 2 MILF units face sanctions