‘Walang eroplano, walang bazooka’

WE are reblogging this article originally titled “Q and A with MILF Commander Haramen on Mamasapano: Walang eroplano, walang bazooka” published on the MindaNews website on February 13, 2015. It includes a Q and A by MindaNews’ Carolyn O. Arguillas with Commander Haramen, operations commander of the 7th Brigade of the 105thBase Command of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).

SITIO AMILIL, Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao (MindaNews/12 Feb) — The few residents living along the highway in Barangay Tuka saw the signs of war when several truckloads of “sundalo” in full battle gear arrived late Saturday evening, January 24, disembarked from their vehicles and walked to the direction of Tukanalipao, some two kilometers away.

Bai Monera, 40, said the “sundalo” left their vehicles on the road. “Sundalo” in these areas is generic for government forces in camouflage uniform and the regulation boots. Monera only knew they were “pulis” when they heard the news the next day that members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police (PNP-SAF) operated near their area.
Sunday dawn, January 25, gunshots awakened residents near and far. By evening, what would be the highest death toll in a single day clash between the government (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the last 18 years — 67 — happened: 44 from the SAF, 18 from the MILF, and five civlians, according to the Commission on Human Rights.

The tragedy in Mamasapano happened 10 months after the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and came at such a crucial time, as Congress was deliberating on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that would serve as the charter of the future Bangsamoro Government, the new autonomous political entity that both parties had targeted to install by 30 June 2016.

Click on the photo to read the full article on the MindaNews website.

MILF commander Haramen (right) is escorted by his men, narrated what happened on January 25, 2015 in an interview two Sundays later, February 8, at the cornfields in Sitio Amilil, Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao | MindaNews photo by Gregorio Bueno