By Sammy F. Martin
MANILA, Feb. 23 (PNA) — Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles on Monday clarified that the authority to investigate and punish violators of the peace deal rests solely on the joint GRP-MILF peace panel and the appropriate punishment can only be determined andimposed by Philippine courts.
He said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) cannot assert any unilateral authority in imposing discipline and the appropriate punishment for its members who were involved in the bloody clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that killed 44 members of the PNP-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) because this is a violation of the peaceagreement.
“The MILF cannot say that they will be the ones to discipline their own members. Because what is clearly stated in the peace agreement is that it will be the joint GRP-MILF team that will investigate and punish violators of the peace agreement. This is not a one-waystreet!” said Nograles, a lawyer and a member of the congressional Ad Hoc committee for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
The veteran lawmaker said the continuing refusal of the MILF to abide by the terms and conditions set in the peace agreement could have a huge effect on the passage of the BBL as many members of Congress, including those who are rabid supporters of the proposal are now in a dilemma if the MILF can really be trusted to run an Autonomous Bangsamoro entity.
“If we cannot trust the MILF to honor and follow the peace agreement to the letter, how can we trust them with the BBL?” he noted.
He said based on the provisions of the Manual of Instructions for CCCH (Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities) and LMT (local monitoring team), “it shall be the responsibility of the GRP-MILF peace panel to take immediate and necessary action to stop any violation and punish respective forces or military fieldcommanders who violate the implementing guidelines.”
On the other hand, it is the CCCH that should inform the GRP-MILF peace panel of any GRP-MILF forces or field commanders committing violations of the implementing guidelines on the security aspect of the peace agreement.
“Clearly, it is the joint peace panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the MILF that will investigate and punish the violators. Our government would be crazy if we allow such a lopsided interpretation of a peace agreement in favor of the MILF that will tie our hands down, that will not allow the Philippine justicesystem to prevail and will not give justice to our Filipino comrades,” Nograles said.
“They are not excluded from the jurisdiction of Philippine courts, they are not excluded from the Philippine territory. We have laws that have to be respected. The peace agreement does not give blanketamnesty and neither does it give the license to kill,” the Mindanao solon said. (PNA)