MILF slams military for disrupting peace

MANILA, Philippines –  The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) denounced the killing of 4 of its members in a military operation in Basilan just 2 weeks after a peace deal was signed to end their decades-old conflict.

“Four of our members were martyred,” MILF vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar told reporters on Tuesday, April 15.

Government forces launched the operation Friday, April 11 to capture two top leaders of the Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) blamed for beheadings and kidnappings. The military claimed 18 ASG and MILF were killed. MILF members were supposedly “acting on their own” to help ASG members who are also their relatives.

“We know that the MILF has irregular forces and it’s hard to control their people. Some of them are relatives of ASG members. They help their in their individual capacities,” Armed Forces chief General Emmanuel Bautista told reporters in Zamboanga City Tuesday. 

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‘Honeymoon period’

Jaafar is not convinced, however. He cautioned the military against disturbing the “honeymoon period” that the government and the MILF are enjoying after the signing of the peace deal.

“We do not want this agreement to be disturbed by such unwanted incidents initiated by the military,” Jaafar said.

The MILF has asked an international committee monitoring the ceasefire between the Philippines and the rebel group to investigate who was to blame for Friday’s violence, Jaafar said.

Jaafar said the attack may have been a result of poor military intelligence. “I believe it’s (attack inside MILF territory) intentional. But did the military know it was the MILF they were attacking? The military should have conducted surveillance, gathered intelligence first. That is basic,” he said.

Jaafar said the “mistake” should not happen again.

The military operation against the ASG was launched in response to the recent extortion and kidnapping incidents that had been reported. The primary objective of the operation was to arrest Puruji Indama, according to Captain Maria Rowena Muyuela, public information officer of the military’s Western Mindanao Command.

The incident highlights the work that needs to be done to complete the peace deal. The military and the MILF, jointly, are supposed to be in charge of the security situation in Muslim-dominated areas until the envisioned Bangsamoro Police Force is set up. (READ: Real peace means the guns will have to go away)

On Monday, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) submitted to Malacañang an incomplete draft of the proposed Bangsamoro political entity.

The submission sets the stage for the second phase of the peace process, which is an equally difficult one: congressional approval of a planned political structure that aims to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and a plebiscite after to determine which towns or provinces would be under its control. – with reports from Agence France-Presse