MILF divided on firearms

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – The Aquino government’s framework agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front involves the “decommissioning” or disarmament of the MILF. But some members are divided over the issue. Paterno Esmaquel reports.

Guns, guns, and guns. It’s a familiar scene this part of Mindanao. That is why the disarmament of Muslim rebels is one of the key points of the peace framework.

But the idea of giving up their guns is dividing members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

An MILF commander admits some of their soldiers distrust the Framework Agreement with the Philippine government. They cite a botched agreement in 2008 that would have created a Bangsamoro substate.

ABDUL SHARIF, MILF company commander

Hindi natin sila masisisi kasi mula sa, ‘di ba ‘yung sa MOA-AD, kasi ‘yang MOA-AD na ‘yan, kaya nagkaroon nga ibang ano ‘yung ibang grupo, dahil nakita nila na parang niloloko lang sila ng gobyerno.

(We cannot blame them because… remember the MOA-AD… some groups have misgivings because they think the government is fooling them.)

The resistance also comes from culture… through generations of armed rebellion.

SHARIF: As a revolutionary, mas mahigit pa ‘yung baril kaysa asawa… Aanhin mo naman ang asawa, hindi mo naman puwedeng gamitin ‘yan sa kalaban.

(As a revolutionary, we love our guns more than our wives… What can you use your wife for; you cannot use her against the enemy.)

MILF troops also speak to Rappler but refuse to be named. They say they will follow their leaders…but believe they need their firearms to protect their homeland.

Some members of the MILF do not see the point of giving up their firearms.They love their guns, after all, more than their wives. One of them tells us he’s willing to lay down his gun… only to pick it up again.

This sentiment arouses fear of another rebel movement that could attract defectors from the MILF. A breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement insists on armed rebellion for a separate Bangsamoro state.

But MILF chair Murad Ebrahim says the peace deal will make too many firearms unnecessary. That is, if the peace framework and the new autonomous government uphold justice and boost the economy.

MURAD EBRAHIM, MILF chair

That is logical, because people aspire to have their firearms because they feel insecure… That is what we are looking forward to – when there is security, when there is justice, when they are served with their basic necessities, then I’ll say, I’ll marry another three wives (laughter)

But negotiators have yet to iron out the laying down of firearms. The government and the MILF resume their peace talks in November… a process that largely depends on uncertain compromises and promises… of a framework that is not quite a treaty.

Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler, Maguindanao. – video by Adrian Portugal/Rappler.com