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MANILA, Philippines (Updated) – The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) wants the Indonesian embassy to intervene in the ongoing encounter in Zamboanga City in its capacity as the third-party facilitator of the tripartite review on the 1996 peace agreement.
“Walang tao sa Mindanao na gusto ng gulo. Wala po. Ang gulo po namin sa lahat ng pangyayari ay mailalagay sa tamang proseso and we hope that the Indonesian Embassy could act on this matter,” MNLF spokesperson Emmanuel Fontanilla on Monday, September 9, said an interview with DZIQ.
READ: Firefight in Zambo as MNLF takes hostages
In a separate interview, Fontanilla said MNLF troops were only acting in self-defense after local cops allegedly conducted an “uncoordinated law enforcement operation.” The MNLF was supposed to hold a peace rally in Zamboanga City, Fontanilla, added, and this is why their members massed up.
The MNLF also denied that the group is holding individuals hostage and appealed to the public not to make judments ‘so hastily.’
The MNLF is calling on the Indonesian government to activate the Organization of Islamic Conference’s (OIC) “ceasefire committee, warning that the conflict could reach as far as Sabah if it’s not addressed soon.
Indonesia is the chair of the OIC-Peace Committee for Southern Philippines (OIC-PCSP). The MNLF is a member of the OIC, which brokered the talks between the government and the rebel group that led to the signing of the Tripoli Agreement in 1976 and the 1996 peace pact.
The MNLF has expressed opposition to the present peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a breakaway group of the MNLF. They want to re-open talks with the government over what they said were unimplemented aspects of the 1996 peace agreement.
READ: Gov’t, MILF gear up for ‘final’ round of talks
Meanwhile, the government has maintained that the final peace pact with the MILF that is nearing completion will address the “issues” that are being raised by the MNLF.
Habib Mujahab “Boghdadi” Hashim, chairman of an MNLF breakaway faction, the Islamic Command Council (ICC), said Monday’s incident is the MNLF’s way of showing it still “a force to be reckoned with.”
“I believe the only possible idea is to show to the whole government that the MNLF is still a force to be reckoned with, unlike what they are saying on the other side that the MNLF is a spent force, that the MNLF can’t fight anymore,” Hashim said.
Another round of tripartite talks is scheduled to be held on September 16 to 17 in Indonesia, But with the encounter, Hashim said it’s unsure whether this would push through.
Peace rally gone wrong?
The MNLF asked for a permit to hold a peace rally but they were refused by the city government, Fontanilla said, and the incident could have been avoided if the government respected the coordination mechanism.
“MNLF members were approached by government forces who are enforcing police action without any coordination. That is why our forces were forced to act in self-defense,” Fontanilla said.
“If they have complaints or actions against the MNLF, it should be channeled through the proper channels and to the lawyer,” added Fontanilla.
Hundreds of MNLF leaders and members gathered in Davao City last September 1 for a peace rally, which Fontanilla explained was an effort of the group to consolidate its members to continue the struggle through peaceful means and legal protests.
“Unlike in Zamboanga, Mayor Duterte gave us permit and the rally was conducted successfully and peacefully,” Fontanilla said.
Government sources said suspected MNLF members took at least 20 hostages in Zamboanga City, as it took over at least 4 barangays. But the MNLF denied holding any person hostage.
“We deny that. We do not know if they are members or maybe sympathizers. Please do not make judgements so hastily,” Fontanilla said.
In a DZMM interview, Fontanilla admitted that the group ‘attempted’ to hoist their flag at the Zamboanga City Hall but in a separate interview, Fontanilla laughed off reports that the MNLF ‘demanded’ to do so.
“It is not true. We are always bringing our flags,” Fontanilla said.
‘Armed defensive mode’
Fontanilla said MNLF troops are now on “armed defensive mode” as firefight erupted in Zamboanga City, where MNLF founder and chairman Nur Misuari is holding residence.
Fontanilla said they were planning to “escort” Misuari to “peacefully go around Mindanao” to hold consultations on the declaration of independence.
In a DZIQ interview, Fontanilla called Misuari as their “president.” News reports earlier said Misuari declared independence through a “peaceful revolution” for the “Bangsamoro Republik,” which would include Palawan, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, and even Sabah, which is under the Malaysia.
“We are opting for peaceful process and supposedly all the element of the government should have been instructed not to harass the MNLF,” Fontanilla told DZIQ.
Misuari went to jail from 2001 to 2009 under the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for rebellion charges after a failed uprising in Jolo in 2001. – Karlos Manlupig/Rappler.com
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