AFP accuses MILF in Basilan of harboring terrorists

From the Daily Tribune (Oct 25): AFP accuses MILF in Basilan of harboring terrorists

The military wants the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to submit a list of all its members in Basilan province as it accused a ranking MILF leader in the area of harboring the group Abu Sayyaf terrorist Furuji Indama.

Col. Carlito Galvez, Army 104th Brigade commander, in a recommendation he submitted to the government’s Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), said that lawless elements, including fugitives, in Basilan are affiliating themselves with the MILF to evade arrest.

“Submission of complete listing of MILF members in Basilan since many lawless groups are now falsely affiliated with the MILF — purposely to evade their outstanding warrants and cover their ongoing lawless activities,” Galvez stated in his recommendations.

Galvez’s recommendations were listed in a five-page formal complaint he filed against the MILF, particularly the group of Malista Malanka, for harboring the group of Indama and Sulayman Adjanti, alias Ulay.

The complaint against the MILF stemmed from the Oct. 7 operation by the 104th Brigade in Sitio Bato Sembung, Barangay Mebak in Sumisip town against Adjanti’s group which led to a pursuit operation in nearby Ungkaya Pukan town, a known area of operation of Malanka.

The military accused Malanka of ignoring calls for his group, composed of more or less 50 armed elements, to give way to government security forces tracking down Adjanti’s group. This, despite communication with the MILF-AHJAG in Basilan, through Hadjie Ganie and commander Edris.

Malanka’s refusal to leave the area led to an intense gun battle with government security forces, lasting for more than four hours and led to the killing of two soldiers, one of them was Capt. Harold Camaso.

The military said that Malanka was with Indama’s group during the firefight as indicated by the killing of Mudas Indama, his trusted aide.

Galvez recommended to the AHJAG “immediate sanction and MILF delisting of Malista Malanka’s group.”

“Strong sanctions from the MILF Central Command to MILF commanders who are providing safe havens and colluding with the ASG-lawless elements,” Galvez stated.

Maj. Gen. Leo Cresente Ferrer, chairman of the government AHJAG, said that Galvez’s complaint has already been forwarded to the peace panel for proper disposition.

“We stand by the report of our field commander,” Ferrer said.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/afp-accuses-milf-in-basilan-of-harboring-terrorists