A lawmaker from Mindanao has slammed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for using a “lopsided” interpretation of the peace agreement it signed with the government as basis for refusing to surrender its members involved in the bloody clash with police troopers last Jan. 25.
By XIANNE ARCANGEL, GMA NewsFebruary 23, 2015 7:05pm
A lawmaker from Mindanao has slammed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for using a “lopsided” interpretation of the peace agreement it signed with the government as basis for refusing to surrender its members involved in the bloody clash with police troopers last Jan. 25.
Davao City Rep Karlo Alexei Nograles said MILF cannot insist on imposing its own brand of discipline and punishment for its members who took part in the gunfight in Mamasapano, Maguindanao because doing so will be a violation of the peace agreement.
Nograles, a lawyer and member of the ad hoc committee tasked to deliberate on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), said the authority to investigate and punish violators of the peace deal rests solely on the joint GPH-MILF peace panel, and the appropriate punishment can only be determined and imposed by Philippine courts.
“Clearly, it is the joint peace panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the MILF that will investigate and punish the violators. Our government would be crazy if we allow such a lopsided interpretation of a peace agreement in favor of the MILF that will tie our hands down, that will not allow the Philippine justice system to prevail and will not give justice to our Filipino comrades,” Nograles said.
Forty-four troopers of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force died in the clash with members of the MILF and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) while carrying out a police operation to arrest terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman.
Provisions of agreement
Citing provisions of the ceasefire agreement it had signed with the government, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal earlier said his group would not turn over its members involved in the Mamasapano clash and would instead impose sanctions on them.
”If you look at the ceasefire agreement of the government and the MILF, what it says there, any breach of discipline on the side of the government, the government will discipline their forces,” Iqbal said.
“In the same way that if there is a breach of discipline on the part of the MILF, the MILF will take charge,” he added.
Nograles, however, said that based on the provisions of the Manual of Instructions for CCCH (Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities) and LMT (local monitoring team), “it shall be the responsibility of the GRP-MILF peace panel to take immediate and necessary action to stop any violation and punish respective forces or military field commanders who violate the implementing guidelines.”
On the other hand, it is the CCCH that should inform the GRP-MILF peace panel of any GRP-MILF forces or field commanders committing violations of the implementing guidelines on the security aspect of the peace agreement.
Can’t proceed with peace talks
The lawmaker warned that the MILF’s continuing refusal to abide by the terms and conditions set in the peace agreement could have a huge effect on the passage of the BBL as many members of Congress, including those who staunchly support the measure, are mulling on whether the MILF can be trusted with running the envisioned Bangsamoro entity.
“If we cannot trust the MILF to honor and follow the peace agreement to the letter, how can we trust them with the BBL?” Nograles asked.
His sentiment was echoed by Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, who noted that MILF’s surrender of its men was one of the conditions set by lawmakers for rebuilding confidence in the peace process.
“The surrender of MILF fighters who were involved in Mamasapano was one of our demands as part of their gesture of sincerity and for justice to be served to the families of the slain PNP SAF. Otherwise, we can’t proceed with talking peace to [the MILF],” he said.
Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat Jr. said the MILF’s refusal to turn over its men involved in the Mamasapano clash will impact the BBL, especially if the Bureau of Inquiry formed by the Philippine National Police, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) finds its members liable over the incident.
The BOI, DOJ and CHR are conducting their respective investigations over the Mamasapano incident. The BOI is expected to release its findings within the week.
The House has temporarily suspended deliberations on the Bangsamoro bill pending the BOI’s submission of its report.
For his part, Alejano’s fellow Magdalo party-list representative, Francisco Ashley Acedillo, was adamant that the rule of law should prevail in holding the MILF members accountable since the violations they purportedly committed were against law enforcement agents.
“Kung kapayapaan po ang mithiin nating lahat, ito ay dapat naka-angkla sa rule of law. Ang pagpapaagot sa mga may sala ay prerogative ng gobyerno hindi ng sinumang tao o grupo,” he said. — BM, GMA News
