Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao – The Philippine National Police’s Board of Inquiry (BOI) wrapped up its field investigation on the January 25 scene of battle in Mamasapano, Maguindanao with a meeting with top political leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), but failed to interview its field commanders.
BOI Director Benjamin Magalong, also the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief, said they tried to set interviews with the rebel group’s field commanders but the MILF’s leadership did not allow it.
On Tuesday, Magalong was scheduled to meet with Wahid Tundoc, the MILF’s 118th Base Command commander, but the meeting was canceled as there was no clearance from the rebel group’s central committee.
Magalong’s group, along with reporters, was at the house of MILF vice chairman GadJaafar’s house inside Camp Darapanan at 10 a.m., and finally Tundoc came at around 1 p.m.
But after handshakes with Magalong and Jaafar, Tundoc had to excuse himself for the afternoon prayer.
Magalong said the board could not just compel or “demand them (Tundoc and others) to speak to an interview by the board.”
But Magalong talked to Jaafar during Wednesday’s visit to Camp Darapanan, the rebel group’s main camp.
“We had a very constructive chat that is a big help to us,” he added.
Magalong said they would like to get a copy of the MILF’s own final report before wrapping up their investigation soon.
Jaafar said the MILF has done its investigation, the results of which would be submitted to the Malaysian facilitator of the peace talks with the Philippine government.
Jaafar said that in his closed-door meeting with Magalong, their conversation was not only confined on the Mamasapano gun battle but also the ceasefire mechanisms and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
The BOI was created to investigate the botched operation that got Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that claimed the lives of 44 police commandos, 18 MILF rebels and five civilians.
Meanwhile, armed men set on fire Tuesday the hut where Zulkifli bin Hir, the Malaysian bomb terrorist known as “Marwan,” was killed by police commandos in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
Senior Inspector Reggie Von Al Haq, MILF vice chair for military affairs, refused to speculate on who could be behind the arson.
Magalong said prior to the burning, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) gunmen had been sighted near Marwan’s hut barangay Pidsandawan.
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