THE chief negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front might attend today’s Senate hearing on the Mamasapano incident, the vice-chairman of the MILF said.
“Posible pong umattend siya bukas sa hearing ng senado, God-willing. Tignan natin kung matuloy ‘yung kanyang pagdalo bukas,” Ghadzali Jaafar was quoted as saying in a report on GMA News online.
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PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III offers a moment of silent prayer before the remains of the fallen Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) Troopers during the Necrological Service at the NCRPO Multi-Purpose Center of Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City on Friday (January 30, 2015) | Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau
The MILF had been subject of criticisms lately after members of the elite Special Action Force clashed with its fighters and several other armed groups in the village of Tukalinapao. Forty-four members of the counter-insurgency SAF were killed.
The SAF troopers were part of an exclusively police force that carried out Oplan Exodus to kill or capture two high-value targets: Basit Usman and Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan” who are linked to the international terrorist group al Qaeda.
Marwan was killed in the operation while Usman escaped.
Several lawmakers have already withdrawn their support for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law currently being discussed in the Senate and Lower House after the incident. The MILF had been negotiating peace with the Aquino government and had forged a landmark agreement only last year.