MILFand 9 killed in police ops in North Cotabato were MILF members

MATALAM, North Cotabato – At least nine members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were massacred in a joint military and police anti-drug operation in Sitio (sub-village) Biao, Kilada village, this municipality, about 11:30 p.m. last May 25.In his letter dated 26 May 2018 to Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel, Butch Malang, head of the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), said aside from those killed, three others were wounded including a woman.Malang disclosed that the BIAF members who were under the 105th Base Command, introduced themselves and surrendered before the operatives during the raid. Then, the raiding forces confiscated their firearms. After the BIAF troops were disarmed, they were deliberately shot by the operatives which resulted to their instant death, Malang said.Malang identified those killed as Dadting M. Hassan, Muhamidin A. Hassan, Konne A. Hassan, Burrah S. Salping, Muhalidin S. Salping, Tiyo Mantik, Orom Mantis, Deng Malunok and a certain Abu.Von Al-Haq, BIAF spokesman, in an interview, said they will file a strong protest with their counterpart CCCH of the Philippine government.Al-Haq belied the published police reports that the BIAF troops engaged the raiding team in a heavy firefight. They were shot after they were disarmed when they could no more defend themselves. So, they were massacred, Al-Haq said. No shabu was found during the raid, Malang said.The firearms recovered by the operatives included two Barret rifles, two M14 rifles, one Garand rifle, one rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, two .45 caliber pistols and two single-shot hand guns.Malang said the incident constituted severe human rights violation as well as a violation of the provisions of the Implementing Operational Guidelines of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities. We would like to express our deepest sorrow and disappointment to those inhuman acts that were done to our MILF comrades despite (of) series of joint coordination, cooperation and collaboration meetings such as the meeting held at IMT HQ yesterday, 25 May 2018 and stakeholders’ meeting held at IMT TS1 last 11 May which was also attended by Supt. Leo T. Ajero, deputy (Police Director) of North Cotabato, Malang said.Malang, then, strongly requested the intervention of the (peace implementing) panel to finally resolve this case and other similar cases.