MILF commander told: Explain killings

From Malaya Business Insight (Jan 12): MILF commander told: Explain killings

THE Moro Islamic Liberation has directed one of its commanders, Abdullah Macapaar, popularly known as Commander Bravo, to explain his supposed role in the recent execution by firing squad of three men in Lanao del Sur.

In its website, the MILF said it does not allow the death penalty for offenders.

Macapaar once headed the MILF’s 102nd Base Command which was blamed for attacks in Central Mindanao, following the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain during the Arroyo administration. He is currently commander of the MILF’s North Eastern Mindanao Command operating in the Lanao provinces.

The MILF sought an explanation from Macapaar after a video of the execution went viral. The video, posted on Facebook, showed Macapaar giving the final order to execute the three men after being found guilty of murder under the Shariah law.

It was not clear in the video when the execution took place. A government source first disclosed in November last year the existence of the video which he said was taken a month earlier.

The MILF said it has banned the operation of so-called mobile Shariah courts in the Lanao provinces that handle cases submitted to them to prevent clan conflict.

“The truth is that until now, the MILF has not allowed death penalty even for major crimes; instead it permits only the payment of blood money to the families of the victims,” the MILF said.

It said the Shariah justice system can be dispensed only by people who know the Islamic law very well. It said being a judge is the “least desired profession” among Muslims because once appointed, the judge’s foot “is already considered in the ridge of hell.”

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/milf-commander-told-explain-killings