Mindanao State University

Iligan Institute of Technology

College of Law MSU-IIT Extension

OPINION ON MAMASAPANO INCIDENT AND ITS RAMIFICATION TO

THE ENACTMENT OF BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW IN THE CONTEXT
OF JUSTICE AND PEACE
By: BRUCE RHICK A. ESTILLOTE
1-Teehankee
I.

INTRODUCTION
The Bangsamoro in Mindanao has long dreamt the regime of a political entity, firmly

believing that this shall lead to a long lasting peace. To materialize this aspiration, a series of
peace processes and agreements has been entered into by the Philippine Government and the
MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front). Throughout, their sincerity was tested.
With the most recent atrocity in Mindanao and amidst all the promises, both parties
are once again tested whether to pursue what will have been finally sought. But will anyone
be justified to link the tragic Mamasapano clash to the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic
Law? Should it hamper the passage of BBL if the Congress wills so? Or should it be treated
as merely showing the need for long lasting peace?

II.

BRIEF FACTS OF MAMAPASANO CLASH

On January 25, 2015, three platoons of the elite SAF (Special Action Force) police
squad entered the guerrilla enclave of Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao, with the

goal of arresting two high-ranking Jemaah Islamiyah-affiliated, improvised-explosive-device

experts, Zulkifli Abdhir (also known as Marwan) and Basit Usman. The SAF troops raided
the hut where they believed Marwan was located, and the man they believe to be Marwan
engaged them in a firefight and was killed. The SAF initially planned to take his body for
identification. However, the shooting alerted the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom
Fighters) and MILF (Moro Islamic liberation Front) 118th Command in the area. The SAF
had no time to retrieve the body so they just cut off a finger, took a photo, and left his body
there.
Concluded after several hours on the same day, the incident left 44 SAF members, 18
MILF members and 7 other civilians dead. 1

1 Andreo Calonzo. Amid outrage over Mamasapano clash, PNoy bats for Bangsamoro law. GMA Network.
February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015