COTABATO CITY, Feb. 3 (PNA) — Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Tuesday challenged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to hand over the firearms, mobile phone and other things of the fallen police Special Action Force in the Mamasapano encounter to the authorities.
“I challenge the MILF to hand over the firearms, mobile phones, fatigue uniforms and other properties of fallen elite police force to improve confidence in the peace process,” Hataman told reporters after convening the ARMM Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC).
“Kung ako lang, mas makabubuti na isauli sa gobyerno yong mga baril at mga gamit ng SAF (If I had my way, the firearms and other things taken from the SAF should be turned over to the government),” the governor said.
“This is a challenge to the MILF,” Hataman said, adding that the firearms now in the hands of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) are out of the question.
“Partners na ang MILF at government, so there should be some confidence rebuilding that was destroyed by the bloody incident,” he said.
Hataman said he met with the RPOC to help complete the puzzle that surrounded the bloody carnage which left 44 elite police, 18 Moro fighters and five civilians killed.
“We tried to piece together the information and the stories together as to how the encounter unfolded and ended,” he said.
“We have at least a picture as to what happened but I will not make it public, instead we will submit it to Congress of the legislative body so desire,” he said.
The BIFF claimed it recovered 10 assault rifles from the fallen soldiers. The MILF did not declare if its troops captured the guns of the elite police force.
Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, refused to comment when asked whether the MILF will hand over the recovered firearms of fallen SAF.
“The MILF central committee will discuss it but as of the moment, I cannot say yes or no,” he said. (PNA)