Doubts cast on MILF peace sincerity; fighters ‘aided’ BIFF

From the Daily Tribune (Feb 12): Doubts cast on MILF peace sincerity; fighters ‘aided’ BIFF

The sincerity of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is again put into question after its fighters engaged government troops pursuing members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) responsible for attacking a government project in Maguindanao province.

Sporadic clashes in various barangays in Datu Salibu and Datu Saudi Ampatuan have so far resulted in the killing of one soldier while two others were wounded, including an Army captain. Elements of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) have launched pursuit operations against BIFF tagged in last Friday’s attack on a dredging project in Datu Salibu town. The BIFF went inside an MILF community in Barangay Gawang near Datu Saudi Ampatuan last Wednesday. But instead of blocking or containing the BIFF rebels as part of the peace process, the MILF reportedly engaged pursuing government troops.

“Why did the MILF allow them (BIFF) entry to their community? The reality on the ground is that they are one and the same,” a security official said.

“We are fooling ourselves if we say they are different. MILF fighters only become BIFF when they are caught doing criminal activities. That is the reality on the ground,” the official added.

Wednesday’s clash was not the first time that the MILF has been accused of coddling criminals within its areas despite the ceasefire agreement with the government as part of the peace negotiations.

During the launching of Oplan “Exodus” by the police’s elite Special Action Force in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25, 2014, combined BIFF and MILF fighters engaged SAF commandos in a day-long clashes in barangays Tukanalipao and Pidsandawan.

The SAF operatives were deployed to arrest Malaysian terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Amin Baco, alias Jihad, and Filipino bomb expert Basit Usman. Forty-four SAF commandos were “massacred.”

In 2011 in Basilan province, 19 Army Special Forces troops were killed after MILF forces, led by Dan Laksaw Asnawi, aided the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Long Malat, who was the subject of warrant of arrest, in a clash in Al Barka town.

“There is a need to revisit the provisions of the ceasefire. The BIFF is learning to use the ceasefire guidelines to its advantage and the MILF is not following what should be observed,” one source said.

“They (MILF) said they will not allow lawless elements or criminal elements or terrorists to go inside their community, if there are any they (MILF) will arrest or contain them. Did they do that? No,” the official added.

But for MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, the non-passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress has caused “widespread frustration” within the Muslim group and among the people of Mindanao.

“There is widespread frustration on the ground by our people and members of the MILF,” he noted during a meeting with government negotiators in Kuala Lumpur last Wednesday.

“They accused the government of resorting again to delaying tactic and just managing the conflict in Mindanao,” he said.

Relatedly, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos  yesterday said President Aquino might be needing some enlightenment on the process on lawmaking in order to understand why the BBL was not passed.

Marcos, chairman of the Senate committee on local government who sponsored the Basic Law for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR), his substitute bill to the BBL of Malacañang, was reacting to reports that the President alleged that two senators had conspired to block the passage of the BBL.

Although the President did not name names, it was quite obvious that he was referring to Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Marcos.

“Maybe someone has to explain to the President that BBL, which we are deliberating on, is a law of local application or a local law,” said Marcos.

“Under the rules, if it concerns laws of local application, we have to wait for the House of Representatives to finish its version before we could proceed with the voting on the Senate version,” Marcos said in radio interview.

He stressed the upper chamber could not vote on the bill if the House of Representatives has not yet finished on its version and transmitted it to the Senate.

The BLBAR was in the period of interpellation with Enrile propounding questions to Marcos when Congress adjourned last February 5. Congressmen also failed to approve their version.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/doubts-cast-on-milf-peace-sincerity-fighters-aided-biff