Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal says warmongers are spreading the false information
CRUCIAL TIMES. Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal denies issuing an advisory to MILF members to prepare for war. File photo by Angela Casauay/Rappler
"It's a pure and simple act of warmongers."
With these words, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Mohagher Iqbal on Wednesday, February 18, denied reports that the rebel group has told its members to prepare for attacks in the event that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law is abandoned.
"'Yung sinasabi na advisory galing sa text na kumakalat. Ako rin mismo natanggap ko. Sa text nabanggit pa ang pangalan ko at galing daw sa akin ang advisory na 'yan," Iqbal said in a joint press conference with government officials Wednesday for the turnover of police Special Action Force firearms. (READ: MILF returns 16 SAF weapons) (That advisory came from a text message that is spreading around. I, myself, received that. The text even mentioned my name and the advisory supposedly came from me.)
"Ang masasabi ko ay walang katotohanan 'yan. Trabaho 'yan ng walang magawa. (All I can say is it's not true. That's the work of those who have nothing better to do.) In times of crisis, warmongers are quick. It's a pure and simple act of warmongers," Iqbal said.
A Manila Standard report published on Wednesday, quoting an unnamed source, claimed the MILF has issued a warning to its members that the government is preparing for a "secret all-out war" as the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law remains stalled in the Senate and the House of Representatives amid a tight deadline.
The measure seeks to create a more powerful autonomous government to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. In exchange for the establishment of the Bangsamoro government, the MILF committed to decommission its firearms under the peace accord signed in March 2014.
Calls for the government to abandon the peace process with the MILF and launch an all-out war against them were ignited following the Mamasapano clash that killed 44 elite cops, 18 Moro rebels, and 3 civilians.
Top security and peace officials reiterated on Wednesday that the government remained firm in its stand to pursue the peace process.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gregorio Catapang Jr commended the MILF for the move to return SAF weapons seized by its members during the January 25 clash in Mamasapano.
Catapang said the "unfortunate incident" should not deter the parties "to win the peace and to claim the peace" in Mindanao in honor of the fallen SAF troops.
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