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“The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has returned 16 weapons its fighters seized from Philippine National Police–Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) troopers during a clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25,” reports ANC.
The report noted: “MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal led the weapons turnover to Government Peace Panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer at Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.”
The report revealed that “among the surrendered arms were 9 M4 carbines and a squad automatic weapon.”
Among those who were also present at the turnover rites were Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Seretary Teresita Deles.
The encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan 25 left 44 members of the elite Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) dead. The PNP-SAF troopers had been out to capture Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan” and Filipino bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman. Both men had bounties on their heads placed by the U.S. government: US$5 million for Marwan and US$1 million for Usman.
The operation turned bloody when members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said they had to fight back because the PNP-SAF had breached their territory. They alleged that they had not been informed about the operation to get Marwan and Usman. The hostile encounter lasted 11 hours. The MILF lost 18 of their fighters.
Both the government and the MILF are currently doing probes on the Mamsapano encounter to determine what went wrong, as the incident threatens the Bangsamoro peace deal.
Photo: Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
