Arrested top MILF field commander remains committed to peace

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 25): Arrested top MILF field commander remains committed to peace

Arrested Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 118th Base Command chieftain, Wahid Tundok, remains steadfast in supporting the peace process despite his arrest by military authorities.

Tundok was apprehended at a checkpoint along Matampay Bridge here by elements of the Philippine Marines and police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Saturday evening following a meeting with fellow MILF leaders at Camp Darapanan in Barangay Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Tundok was aboard his black Toyota Hilux when seized by the lawmen. Found in his vehicle were two high-powered firearms.

Long wanted by the law, Tundok is facing a string of murder and arson cases before the local courts.

He was immediately taken for custody to Camp Siongco, the headquarters of the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division situated at Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, pending the decision of the government and MILF peace panel over his case.

In an interview by newsmen, Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, noted that MILF leaders were earlier granted temporary immunity from arrest as part of the ongoing GPH-MILF peace overture.

The government expects to forge final peace accord with the MILF before 2016 to end the decades-old Moro rebellion in Mindanao.

Despite his arrest, however, visiting Shariff Aguak Mayor Zaharah Ampatuan said Tundok remains calm and committed to the peace talks when asked at his holding quarters inside Camp Siongco.

“He (Tundok) believes that all of these will come to pass and everything would be all right soon for the sake of peace,” said the lady mayor who stayed for several hours with the MILF leader following his arrest.

Another visiting local chief executive, Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom, said Tundok is treated well inside the camp, even as he reechoed the latter’s concern over the MILF’s ongoing peace venture with the government.

“Tundok just hopes that his arrest would not affect the current local truce as both GPH-MILF parties have worked hard for years to reach the near completion of their talks,” Dimaukom said.

This developed as two top police officials maintained that soldiers and cops were just doing their jobs when they arrested Tundok.

"If we saw people we know who has standing warrant of arrest and we let them go or pass, we become guilty of contempt," Philippine National Police–Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-ARMM) Director, Chief Supt. Noel delos Reyes, said.

"We, in PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) were saddened about the news but we will still continue to enforce the law. The arrest warrant was issued by the court and we, as law enforcers, should respect and follow it", Chief Supt. Getulio Napeñas, head of the PNP-SAF added.

Napeñas was special guest to Monday’s PNP-ARMM’s 23rd foundation anniversary held at Camp Brigadier General Salipada K. Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao.

Napeñas said he lost one PNP-SAF personnel during the Feb. 17 law enforcement operation against Yusoph Kusain, another wanted MILF commander, at Barangay Madidis, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao.

Kusain was implicated in deadly bombings in Central Mindanao in recent years.

Cops gunned down Kusain when he resisted arrest and engaged the arresting team in a shootout.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=619611