MILF report on Mamasapano incident is incomplete — De Lima

Justice Sec. Leila De Lima at the Senate hearing on the Mamasapano Clash (Photo courtesy of Sen. Grace Poe’s Facebook page)

MANILA — Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila M. De Lima on Tuesday said that the report of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the Mamasapano incident where 44 members of the elite Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) were killed is incomplete.

Likewise, De Lima noted that the DOJ’s investigation on the Mamasapano incident is still not over.

The DOJ panel released part I of their report in April this year where it recommended the filing of complaints for murder against 90 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members for the death of 35 of the 36 members of the 55th Special Action Company.

It also recommended the filing of a complaint for theft.

The complaint filed was based on the testimony of the government’s witness given the codename “Marathon”.

The National Bureau of Investigation-National Prosecution Service (NBI-NPS) team is continuing with its investigation.

De Lima said that they were given a copy of the MILF report.

However, De Lima said, while there were findings and conclusions, there are no other evidence to support it.

“Hindi kasi pwede na report lang, conclusions lang at walang affidavits like first-hand witnesses,” she said.

De Lima said that the MILF has formed a commission that conducted the fact-finding investigation.

“The findings and conclusions are found in their report but I have noticed that while there were factual observations, wala yung supporting, sinu-sino ang mga witnesses,” she added.

The Part 2 of the DOJ report is supposed to cover the circumstances surrounding the death of members of the PNP-SAF’s 84th Seaborne Company as well as the death of members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and civilians.

However, De Lima was silent on the “alternative truth” about the Mamasapano incident mentioned by President Benigno S. Aquino III.