SEEKING justice for the death of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) killed in a firefight in Mamasapano, Maguindanao should not derail the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
This is the campaign of Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chairperson of the Government Peace Panel in a press conference on Wednesday in Baguio City.
An ongoing investigation is being done by the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman for possible lapses in the planning that led to the botched operation.
“Baka nga may pagkakamali kaya may investigation for individual accountabilities like Napeñas, Purisima and even on the part of President Benigno Aquino,” Coronel-Ferrer said.
“Let the investigation take its course but seeking justice for the SAF 44 should not be at the expense of the BBL since we are trying to repair peace for the greater majority in Mindanao,” the peace panel chair added.
Prime movers of the BBL conducted a forum in Baguio City in the aim to "ease tension with the families of the SAF. The forum was held at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), four days before the commencement exercises of the institution on March 13.
Efren Elbanbuena, the cluster head of the Philippine Information Agency for South Central and Western Mindanao, said the BBL promotion for PMA cadets seeks to explain the situation of Mindanao to future military officials.
"New graduates of PMA will surely be assigned to Mindanao so we thought it proper to make the cadets understand the Bangsamoro situation," Elbanbuena said.
The forum was led by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Panel and Bangsamoro Transition Committee chairperson Mohagher Iqbal with Ferrer.
This is the first time Iqbal set foot in Baguio City, according to Elbanbuena.
During the press conference, Iqbal was asked how he felt setting foot in the Cordillera – the home of at least 14 of the SAF 44 who died in an encounter with the MILF and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front (BIFF).
“I came here for peace and I think this is a good opportunity for us to explain that we are all seeking for the truth,” Iqbal answered.
“The truth is, it is not only the SAF troopers that suffered casualties, 17 died on the part of the MILF aside from those wounded and five civilians killed too. There were so many properties destroyed during the encounter. It is a tragic incident and nobody wanted for it to happen but it happened,” he added.
Iqbal said “even if we regret, it won’t change anything. What is important now is that we work together for peace.”
Historically, Mindanao has been seeking for peace, according to Iqbal, but it only became a priority during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
But even with the peace process declared as a priority, Iqbal said there were still major firefights against MILF particularly in 2008.
The peace process was carried as a primary focus of President Benigno Aquino III; however, Iqbal said terror ruled in the planning and implementation of the operation in Mamasapano which resulted to the encounter. (Jessa Mardy Polonio)