Clash displaces 6,000 in Mamasapano —ARMM

By FERDINANDH CABRERA

Published February 2, 2015 1:42pm

COTABATO CITY—The Mamasapano "misencounter" that killed 44 policemen, more than ten Moro Islamic Liberation Front members and several civilians has also displaced 6,000 residence in six villages in the Maguindanao town, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has said.

The ARMM’s Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team or HEART reported that 6,000 persons fled their homes following the clash that government authorities claimed was a misencounter with Moro rebels, after the police troopers reportedly killed suspected terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.

HEART also reported that six elementary schools in Mamasapano remained closed after pupils refused to show up for fear of more hostilities.

Haroun al-Rahid Lucman, ARMM vice governor, said over the weekend that civilians feared government forces might try to get back at MILF.

The ARMM has turned over P25,000 cash assistance to the families of slain civilians and P10,000 for the wounded residents of Mamasapano town.

Call for genuine peace

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman added that a fund raising program will be launched for the civilian victims.

Hataman had choice words for those calling for the abrogation of the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and declare an all-out war in Mindanao.

“Know the truth first before one should issue comments. It is not true and genuine peace if it is not based on justice,” he said, pointing to his shirt that declare “Peace must be based on truth and justice.”

He said the Mamasapano incident should not hinder the attainment of genuine peace through the passage of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“There’s no other solution to the Mindanao issue but peace. War is not the answer. Only peace based on truth and justice can unite all of us. Through it we will not experience the cruelty and horrors of war,” he said.

“I appeal to our leaders, lawmakers and all Filipinos, let us unite and support BBL because I believe it will prevent war from happening in Mindanao,” Hataman said.

Peace rally

The ARMM's weekly flag raising ceremony turned into an impromptu peace rally with Hataman emotionally calling for peace, justice and the truth behind the Mamasapano clash.

Hataman read his solidarity message to about hundreds of workers who paid tribute to all the fatalities in the Mamasapano encounter.

Hataman and all employees wore black t-shirts with markings “Truth, Justice, Peace” to honor the members of the Police Special Action Force, Moro rebel fighters and civilians who died in the incident.

Regional government offices around the complex had its flag flown at half-mast in honor of all the victims. —NB, GMA News

Tags: mamasapanoclash, biff, milf, pnpsaf, mamasapano