'Bakit na naman nangyari ito?': Solon seeks probe into deadly Basilan clash between gov't troops, MILF fighters


At a glance

  • Basilan lone district Rep. Mujiv Hataman is calling for an urgent congressional inquiry on the deadly encounter between government troops and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the province.


Basilan lone district Rep. Mujiv Hataman is calling for an urgent congressional inquiry on the deadly encounter between government troops and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the province.

"Bakit na naman nangyari ito (Why did this happen again)?" Hataman, a former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), asked Friday, Jan.31.

Hataman said that in times of peace, there should not be any encounter between both sides as he expressed concern over the lives lost in such events.

Thus, the lawmaker filed House Resolution (HR) No. 2206 to order the investigation into the Jan. 22 clash in Barangay Lower Cabengbeng, Sumisip, Basilan that resulted in the deaths of Private First Class Mark Barat and Corporal Orland James Diamel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and left several others injured.

A similar encounter between the AFP and the MILF also happened in November 2022 in Barangay Ulitan, Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan, which resulted in multiple casualties, including five MILF fighters and three government troops.

Hataman stressed the gravity of such incidents as they not only claim lives but also destabilize communities that have worked hard to recover from decades of conflict.

"This heinous act not only inflicted harm upon individuals and their families but also disrupted the peace and security of the affected community," the resolution stated.

Hataman said the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), signed in 2014, was meant to prevent such clashes by ensuring clear security mechanisms and coordination between the government and the MILF.

However, the recent violence raises questions about the effectiveness of these mechanisms.

"The CAB outlines key principles and commitments to advance security, stability, and inclusive governance in the Bangsamoro region, highlighting the importance of addressing root causes of conflict and enhancing mechanisms for sustainable peace," the resolution read.


Condemning all forms of violence, Hataman said the resolution will provide an opportunity to identify gaps, challenges and policy needs to strengthen the security framework and enhance intergovernmental coordination in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The inquiry, he added, will focus on reviewing the peace process, evaluating existing security protocols and determining what needs to be done to prevent similar incidents in the future.

"This incident underscores the need to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of the CAB and related security mechanisms to prevent similar occurrences and ensure the continued progress of the peace process," the resolution stated.