DAVAO CITY – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Central Committee has sought an independent probe on the recent law enforcement operation in which seven members were killed in Datu Paglas town in Maguindanao del Sur.
In a resolution dated June 20 but made public on June 22, the MILF Central Committee said that the failure of government forces to coordinate the operation was a gross violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermines the primacy of the Bangsamoro peace process.
It also called for an urgent “impartial, honest, credible, and fair fact-finding investigation by a third-party investigator.”
The MILF called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to give “paramount importance to justice, peace, and security” amid the ongoing investigation.
Signed by MILF Chairman and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, the resolution noted that the horrific incident happened in an MILF community where the victims have already filed their applications for amnesty, which is an integral component of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF.
Killed in the raid were MILF National Guard Front leader George Kasim and subordinates Nasser Yousef Husain, 34; Norjihad Husain, 29; Nasrullah Mamay Singkala, 38; Ivan Pumpuga, 18; Izrael Laguiab, 41; Morsid Madidis, 50, and Mama Karim, 53.
Bangsamoro Government Member of Parliament Baileng Simpal Utto Mantawil echoed the MILF’s statement, saying the operation was a gross ceasefire violation due to the failure of State security forces failure to coordinate with the MILF.
“As a representative of the Bangsamoro people, it is our solemn duty to protect their rights and to ensure their safety and to seek justice when their rights are violated,” Mantawil said in a speech before fellow members of the parliament. “We cannot turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed to our own people.”
She added that the raid raises serious questions about the manner on how it was executed amid circulating reports that the victims had been handcuffed and allegedly killed in sacred spaces.
“This casts a dark shadow on the credibility of the operation,” Mantawil added in her speech which was streamed live on Facebook.
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region police chief Police Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza insisted that the raid in Datu Paglas was a legitimate law enforcement operation conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the BARMM.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said that the fatalities were members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Karialan Faction.
The Wesmincom said that operating troops implemented search warrants No. 01-2023 and 02-2023 for violation of RA 10591 against Nasser Yussef Hussain, alias “Tutin Usop,” and Nurjihad Husain, alias “Datdat Usop.”
“When they were approaching the subject’s residence, an undetermined number of BIFF members fired upon the government forces, which resulted in the wounding of one police personnel.”
Seized in the operation were six firearms – one Uzi, two M16 rifles, and three caliber .45 pistols – and assorted ammunition.