By Edu Punay, Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Three commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), two commanders of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and 97 others will face preliminary investigation for the killing of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

In a transmittal letter to the Department of Justice dated July 13, the fact-finding team of the National Bureau of  Investigation (NBI) and National Prosecution Service (NPS) recommended the preliminary investigation for the complex crime of direct assault with murder.

Included in the list are MILF commanders Ben Tikaw, Makku Tikaw and Salik Kikuk; and BIFF commanders Mer Amilil and Muslimin Gumanding.

“The Joint NBI-NPS Special Investigation team is pleased to refer to your Office for the conduct of preliminary investigation the results of its fact-finding investigation into the Mamasapano incident of Jan. 25, 2015 wherein 35 members of the 55th Special Action Company of the PNP-SAF (Special Action Force) were found to be victims of the complex crime of direct assault with murder perpetrated by confederating members of the MILF, BIFF and Private Armed Groups (PAGs),” the letter stated.

Also recommended for preliminary investigation are BIFF members Hud Lamban Abdullah alias Hud Amilil, Zaharis Kusain Amilil, Mahmod Pidtub Amilil and Noel Sinsuat Ganoy.

Identified members of the MILF, on the other hand, include Marop Kudos Omar alias Marup, Badrudin Minidal Abdullah, Suweb Inday Balabagan, Suari Anok Bhal, Sabi Samama Dalimbang, Musib Kamot Hasim, Randy Kindi Abdulrahman and Esmail Mamalangkas Kilay.

At the same time, the panel added that the rebels also committed theft when they took the personal properties of the victims.

Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, however, said he has not yet received as of yesterday afternoon the formal referral letter from the NBI, which will serve as formal complaint against the respondents.

Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, head of the NPS component in the fact-finding team, also said they have not yet come up with such recommendation.

Last April, the Department of Justice (DOJ) also recommended the filing of charges against only 90 MILF, BIFF and PAGs members for the cases of 35 slain SAF men who belonged to the 55th company that engaged MILF and BIFF fighters and private vigilantes in the cornfields of Barangay Tukanalipao.

The specific charges, however, were not bared at the time pending a review ordered by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

The cases of the nine other slain commandos from the 84th SAF Company who were killed in another encounter in Barangay Pidsandawan in Mamasapano as well as the five civilians and 18 MILF fighters who were also killed during the clash would be subject to further investigation by the fact-finding team that was given two more months to complete the probe.

The joint panel of prosecutors from the justice department and agents of the NBI had increased the number of respondents in the Mamasapano criminal case to 102, from the previous 90.

The respondents were identified by a witness known as “Marathon” as among the armed men that clashed with members of PNP-SAF in Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano last Jan. 25.

“Walang bago. Dinagdagan lang yung mga pangalan kasi may na overlook na names previously (Nothing new. We added some names that were previously overlooked),” a source said, adding that some of the respondents were only identified through their aliases.

The source explained that Marathon’s testimony was limited to what the witness saw in the cornfield in Tukanalipao. – With Aie Balagtas See