MILF warns members on elections

From the Manila Bulletin (May 8): MILF warns members on elections

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim has warned all MILF members against endorsing candidates or joining political sorties for the May 13 elections, stressing that erring followers will be punished.

In an interview with selected journalists at the MILF’s Camp Darapanan here, Murad affirmed that their front as a revolutionary organization that upholds its usual “hands-off” policy in political exercises.

But in deference to the MILF’s glowing peace process with the government, he said, individual members are now allowed to exercise limited rights of suffrages to vote only, not to endorse or join the campaign rallies of candidates of their choice.

“Our policy is no participation in elections. However, there is a little variation now. Since we know that the result of the elections (will have bearing on) the implementation of the peace agreement, we allow our members, those who want to vote or enjoy their right of suffrage,” Murad said.

He said the MILF central committee has advised individual members to vote for candidates for local and senatorial posts who appeared “supportive” to the implementation of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), which the state and rebel peace panels signed in Malacañang on October 15, 2012.

Some MILF members have existing voters’ registrations to vote in the coming polls, but majority of the front’s active membership (government records put at 13,000) has yet to list up, Murad said.

The FAB prescribes for the MILF to form a political party and field candidates to a Transition Commission that will be established in 2015 in replacement of the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governance.

During the interview here, Murad acknowledged the forging of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last April 22 in Davao City between the ceasefire committees of the government and MILF peace panels in connections with this month’s elections.

He explained that the MOU mandates both government and MILF forces to work jointly for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the country’s first synchronized local, ARMM and national elections.

He said MILF registered voter-members will be allowed to go to election precincts to cast vote without firearms.

The MILF chieftain warned of punitive sanctions against members resorting to endorsing candidates or joining political rallies and field sorties in the current of election campaign.

Former MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu had been expelled from the front’s roster for endorsing candidates in the 2010 elections.

Our advice to them is to vote for candidates who can support the implementation of the peace process. Officially, we have no candidates. But individually, they have their choices.

Murad described the upcoming elections as “very important” because its results would have bearing on the implementation of the FAB.

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