MILF accuses military of siding with MNLF, endangering ceasefire

From GMA News (Jun3): MILF accuses military of siding with MNLF, endangering ceasefire

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Sunday accused the military of endangering the ceasefire between it and the Philippine government, accusing a Philippine Army brigade of siding with the Moro National Liberation Front during fighting in Matalam in North Cotabato.

In an article posted on the MILF news site Sunday, the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities said the Army's 602nd Infantry Brigade may be to blame if the ceasefire between the MILF and the government collapses.

“We cannot understand the reasons why the 602nd Brigade had been joining the fighting and bombarding the MILF other than their sneaky motive of undermining the ceasefire and the peace process between the government and MILF,” said MILF CCCH member Omar Bayao.

“They are leaving no other [choice] for the MILF but to defend themselves,” he added.

According to Bayao, the 602nd Brigade under Gen. Ademar Tomaro, assisted the Moro National Liberation Front by attacking the MILF in Barangays Marbel and Natutunagan in Matalam.

The MILF's local troops had been engaged in skirmishes in the area with the forces of the MNLF's Datu Dima Ambil.

According to the MILF, it had no intention of engaging the government forces, but 602nd Brigade lobbed 105-mm “mortars” against the local MILF forces.

“The MILF had not started the firefight, our troops had been in defensive position and had not been firing at the military because we put above the primacy of the peace process and the ceasefire,” Bayao said.

'Very unfortunate'

For his part, MILF CCCH head Rasid Ladiasan said the 602nd Brigade's members were occupying  house vacated by displaced civilians and by the MILF.

"This is totally devoid of respect to mandated duties, human rights, international humanitarian laws, civilian protection and the ceasefire accord,” he said.

“What can the CCCHs of the government and MILF do if the forces of Brig. Gen. Tomaro are bent (on disrespecting) the ceasefire and out to imperil the peace process that had been painstakingly upheld by the leadership of the MILF and no less than His Excellency President Benigno Simeon Aquino III?” he added.

He said this is "very unfortunate," since the local government units, concerned leaders, MILF leadership and the national government, and the International Monitoring Team (IMT) "had been trying hard to immediately revert back normalcy in the conflict affected areas of Matalam."

Ladiasan said the MILF CCCH knew Tomaro as a "good general" and he hoped "would do the right thing to protect the ceasefire and the peace process.”

The MILF revealed that a reconciliation ceremony for the peaceful settlement of the conflict between the local troops of Datu Dima and the MILF had been scheduled for June 5. The settlement was arrived at through the facilitation and support of the mayors of Matalam and Pagalungan.

The concerned MILF commander, Dima Ambil, Tomaro, and Talino signing the resolution for a peace settlement last May 23.

But the MILF, citing recent attacks and war posture of Tomaro's forces, said the reconciliation may not happen.

Worse, it said the ceasefire between the government and MILF and even the framework agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) they signed in Malacañang last October may be "adversely affected."

GMA News Online was unable to reach Armed Forces of the Philippines officials for comment.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/311153/news/nation/milf-accuses-military-of-siding-with-mnlf-endangering-ceasefire