MILF invites Cayetano to coffee in Maguindanao camp

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has extended an open invitation to its staunch critic, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano,  for a “calm” conversation on the Bangsamoro struggle over coffee at its headquarters in Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, extended the invitation to Cayetano through the media on Friday, March 13, days after the senator continued his tirades against the group which he insists is a terrorist organization.

Jaafar said the MILF is willing to chat and discuss with Cayetano the history and the dynamics of the Bangsamoro struggle in an intellectual and constructive manner inside Camp Darapanan, the MILF’s main headquarters.

“We are inviting Cayetano to come and visit us in Camp Darapanan. There we can talk calmly over a cup of coffee. We will serve him the best native coffee from Pikit, North Cotabato,” Jaafar said.

Jaafar said the MILF leaders can give Cayetano a tour of the camp.

In a privilege speech on Wednesday, March 11, that drew mixed sentiments, the senator accused the MILF of being anti-peace and enumerated the dangers of passing the Bangsamoro Basic Law.  He said the MILF must first lay down its arms prior to the passage of the measure.

Cayetano had consistently accused the MILF of coddling terrorists including Malaysian bomber Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan, the primary subject of a the botched Mamasapano operation on January 25, where 67 people died – 44 elite cops, 18 MILF members, and 5 civilians.

Jaafar reiterated the MILF’s denial. “We have not coddled Marwan. It’s already a dead issue.”

Cayetano had questioned the sincerity of the MILF in forging a lasting peace deal with the government, and challenged the group to prove otherwise by disarming its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Jaafar said that if there would be such a request from the Philippine government and the military, “the MILF Central Committee will hold a meeting and decide on that.”

He said, however, that the MILF is already cooperating in the military’s all-out offensive against the BIFF.

“The present cooperation of the MILF in the ongoing all-out offensive most especially our prepositioning is already a proof of our good faith in the peace process. For how many years, we have been very patient in the talks. What else should we prove?” Jaafar said. 

During the first days of the all-out offensive, hundreds of MILF combatants were transported by trucks, including military vehicles, to undisclosed areas away from the fighting.

At least 19,075 families or 93,402 residents have been living in evacuation centers in 13 municipalities following the government operations against the BIFF in Maguindanao. – Rappler.com