We just fought back — MILF

MILF Chief Peace Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal at Thursday’s (Feb 12, 2015) Senate hearing on the Mamasapano clash (Photo courtesy of Sen. Grace Poe’s Facebook page)

MANILA — A report submitted by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to the Senate on Tuesday, indicates that the rebel forces were “justified in fighting back” police commandos who allegedly had fired them first on Jan. 25.

The report stated that the rebels were unaware of the government operation to capture Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” and his Filipino associate, Basit Usman.

The 37-page report of the MILF’s Special Investigation Commission also cited that under the ceasefire guidelines, a gun battle was inevitable without prior coordination.

The MILF also noted a “glaring failure of intelligence” among their part though insisting that they did not coddle the suspects.

They added that the failure was with their two base commands who did not detected that Marwan and Usman were present in the areas near their communities.

MILF even added that they should even file a protest against the Special Action Force (SAF) for breaking the ceasefire by failing to coordinate with them about the operation which killed 44 SAF commandos, 17 MILF fighters and at least three civilians, according to the MILF report.

The MILF also demanded for the SAF commandos to be held accountable for violating their own human rights.