MANILA, Philippines – Amid questions on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)’s commitment to peace with the government following the death of 44 elite cops in a bloody clash with Moro rebels, Malacañang came to the defense of the group which, it says, wants peace too.  

On allegations that the MILF has links to terrorist groups, Palace Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that information “should be put into perspective,” and cited the explanation of Chief Peace Adviser Teresita Quintos Deles at the congressional hearings on the Mamasapano clash.

In a news briefing on Wednesday, February 11, Lacierda, quoting Deles, said  that the MILF had heeded the goverment demand to disavow any links to terror groups as a show of sincerity in forging a peace pact with the government and there is no proof to believe otherwise.

“If there are any allegations, Secretary Ging Deles also mentioned that it has been raised in the highest levels. So there has been an ongoing discussion and both parties yearn for peace. It’s easy for us here to say otherwise because war is not in our porches. War is not fought in our doorsteps,” he said.

Lacierda said the administration understands the emotions surrounding the deaths, but said all-out war is not the answer. 

“We want peace that is just and lasting peace. Everybody wants that. We understand the frustration right now. We understand that given the situation right now, peace may not be a popular term to be discussed,” he said. “But, again, the alternative to peace is just too costly for all of us to bear.”

The Palace’s defense comes the same day a leaked video on the attack – purportedly showing some Moro rebels killing a Special Action Force (SAF) commando and taking the belongings of killed cops – went viral on the Internet. The video ignited an uproar among netizens against the MILF.

Lacierda also spoke of the video, calling the person who uploaded it “heartless.”

“You have a right to be angry. You have a right to be outraged by such a brutal display of violence,” he said, addressing the public. “But at the end of the day, we need to seek the truth. We need to find justice for all of those who died, including the SAF hero who was in that video. And that’s what we intend to do.”

He added, “Whoever uploaded that video is a heartless fellow and if you still have some humanity left in your soul, we ask you to take it down.”

Executive session

Lacierda also defended the MILF’s  request to speak about the Mamasapano incident in an executive session, rather than a public hearing – but only after it completes its internal investigation.

He said the executive session would still allow the MILF to share what they know with senators and other resource persons.

“The important thing is that they are able to shed light on the situation before us,” he said.

The MILF’s continued absence at the congressional hearings had raised more questions about its commitment to the peace talks – even after it had yielded to the government demand to return the SAF weapons and “retrievable personal items” obtained by its members in the clash.

Lacierda added: “There may be reasons why [they’re asking for an executive session]. So whether the Senate committee will understand those reasons, and on those bases justify calling for an executive session, that will be up to the Senate committee to decide.” 

He also said it is best not to believe at this point, allegations that the MILF coddled serve top terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir, better known as “Marwan,” and Abdul Basit Usman – the targets of the SAF troopers in Mamasapano.

“We need to make sure that everything is laid out truthfully because you cannot use prejudice to be a basis for judgment. It has to be facts. In order to obtain justice, we have to get to the bottom of the truth and we should not allow our prejudices to color the conclusion,” he said. 

On January 25, some 392 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos entered Mamasapano town in Maguindanao, a known bailiwick of the MILF, to serve  arrest warrants to Marwan and Usman.

The operation resulted in a bloody clash between the MILF and SAF troopers leading to the death of a total of at least 68 people, including 44 SAF troopers.

The MILF blames this on the failure of the PNP-SAF team to coordinate with them, as provided for in its agreement with the government on operations in known MILF territories. 

The PNP leadership, however, has scored the MILF for its “overkill” of the police officers. (READ: Espina turns emotional over SAF 44 ‘overkill’)  – Rappler.com