MILF releases names of Mamasapano casualties

On the morning of January 29, 2015, the remains of the members of the PNP Special Action Force slain in Mamasapano arrived at the Villamor Air Base. The fallen PNP SAF were accorded arrival honors, led by the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas, PNP Deputy Dir. Gen. Leonardo Espina, and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Catapang. (Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office)

MANILA – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Monday released the names of 18 killed and 14 injured fighters during the bloody “misencounter” last January 25 between the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and the 105th Base Command of MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal revealed the names during a press conference of the government and the MILF following the signing of the protocol on the rules governing the MILF.

He also sent his condolences for the loved ones of those who died in Mamasapano.

“Rest assured that no amount of obstacles along the way can stop us from pursuing the path of peace in Mindanao,” he said.

Aside from this, Iqbal asked the media not to further fan the flames of hatred.

“Bangsamoro have also suffered a lot as a result of several massacres. The encounter in Mamasapano wasn’t intended by either side — from side of government and MILF. It was a pure and simple misencounter,” he said.

He also pointed out that the operation was meant to catch suspected terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman. Both were allegedly coddled by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Meanwhile, according to government chief peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, the incident that happened on January 23 was “an ugly turn of events.”

She, thereby, urged everyone to continue on with the peace process. Ferrer said that they will be forming an independent decommissioning body that will serve as the negotiators between two parties. This will include the turnover of the weapons of the MILF.

“We managed to come up with concrete solutions soberly. The results will not become immediately evident. We will remain under scrutiny. We will have to regain the people’s trust. Let our actions then speak louder than our words in due time,” she said.