Statement of the GPH Peace Panel Chair Marvic Leonen on the Filing of a Protest on the Basilan Incident from the WESTMINCOM

We learned today that the Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the leadership of Lt. General Ferrer is filing ceasefire violations against the Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF) and murder and frustrated murder charges against their members for the death of 19 military soldiers. Protests for ceasefire violations are processed through the procedures contained in the implementing guidelines to the 1997 Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities signed by both sides.  This requires investigation and eventually a report to both panels.  I have instructed the government's coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities (CCCH) to aggressively facilitate the investigation and make a report forthwith.

We are seriously disturbed by information we are currently receiving from the ground commanders and the chain of command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.  Under existing ceasefire guidelines, large movements of troops of the MILF should be coordinated with our AFP.  Also, we are concerned about the composition of the 114th base command, i.e. if some of its elements have standing warrants for common crimes.  Furthermore, the rules of armed conflict, which both sides adhere to, prohibit the taking of personal belongings of those who are dead and wounded.  These rules also prescribe proper decorum vis-a-vis those who are wounded in battle.

Again, I reiterate that it was made clear to us that the operations of the government's security forces were not directed at the MILF.  The results of the investigation done within our ceasefire mechanism will be assessed and, depending on its findings, may certainly weigh heavily on the peace process.  The agreement on the cessation of hostilities for us is an important agreement.  Its  faithful implementation is necessary to provide the conditions for negotiations to proceed in earnest.

This incident will certainly be part of the agenda in the next meeting of the parties. We will honor our dead by continuing in our efforts to  find and negotiate fundamental but pragmatic solutions to this conflict in Mindanao so that in the near future no one else--soldier or civilian--will fall victim to these types of violence.  We will also honor them by doing and serving justice in an unflinching manner at the right time and in the right way.