Iqbal: Lack of coordination may have caused Basilan clash

COTABATO CITY–The deadly clash between government forces and armed groups, one of which was affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, may have been caused by the lack of coordination between the two sides in Sumisip, Basilan, Bangsamoro officials said on Wednesday.

Stressing that the information still needs to be verified, Bangsamoro Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal and MILF-CCCH chairperson Butch Malang made the remarks two days after four persons were killed and 12 other were injured in a clash between soldiers of the 32nd Infantry Battalion and two armed groups.

One of the two groups is reportedly linked to the MILF.

"It was an unfortunate incident. Pareho ang gobyerno at ang MILF naging biktima,” Iqbal told reporters.

“I am not preempting the result of the verification…There was no coordination. Pumasok sila bigla. Walang coordination,” he added.

(It was an unfortunate incident. Both the government and the MILF are victims. I am not preempting the result of the verification... There was no coordination. They just went in. There was no coordination.)

The soldiers were providing security to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) personnel involved in a peace and development project in Barangay Lower Cabengbeng, Sumisip, Basilan when the encounter occurred on Wednesday.

Butch Malang, MILF-CCCH chairperson, said he inquired with their secretariat, who said they were not informed of the operations.

According to the CCH, government security forces entering MILF communities are required to inform the GPH-CCCH through letters or messages. The GPH-CCCH will then coordinate with the MILF-CCCH. 

“Wala po talagang nareceive ang MILF-CCCH na coordination na may papasok na security sector sa isang area,” Malang said.

(The MILF-CCCH received no information that a group from the security sector was entering one area.) –NB, GMA Integrated news