A sub-commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) insisted on Sunday that rebel forces will not stand down until the government resumes negotiations for the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) that seeks to expand the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).At the same time, the MILF sub-chief identified as “Commander Anderson” told ABS-CBN News in Lanao del Sur that the rebel group will not give up sub-commanders Bravo and Umbra Kato.Anderson, of the MILF’s 116th Base Command, said they will keep on fighting unless the military stands down.
“Ano kami, mga uto-uto? Na paalis mga ngipin namin? Ano nang mangyayari sa amin kung wala kaming ngipin?,” he said.
Anderson, an Islamic studies scholar at the Mindanao State University and a foreign student in Pakistan, once led the MILF in the military’s all-out war against the secessionists in year 2000.
Now, he said that the situation remains the same. He said there is no chance that the MILF will hand over Bravo and Kato, who allegedly led attacks against civilians in Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Sarangani provinces last week.
Stand down or else
In Manila, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said that if MILF chairman Al Haj Murad is not willing to hand over Kato, Bravo and another sub-chief named Commander Pangalianare, rebel forces must stand down because government troops will enforce the law.“If Chairman Murad is not willing or capable of bringing in his three MILF commanders to answer for their terroristic acts, then he and his men must stand down as government forces enforce the law. Short of that, there will be no let up in government offensive.
He said that short of the surrender, the police and the military will not stop their pursuit operations against the rebels.
“The military and the police cannot suspend their law enforcement operations unless the three base commanders of the MILF are neutralized and punished in accordance with our laws for their acts of terrorism against innocent and helpless civilians,” Dureza added.
The press chief added that historically, the three MILF commanders have been recalcitrant despite their group’s negotiations with the government.
“[They] may continue their violent acts even if agreements are signed with the MILF leadership,” he said.
Dureza also said that if Murad wishes to return to the negotiating table, he must show he does not support criminal acts committed by his sub-commanders. He said Murad should hand over the accused to government authorities.
“The inaction of the MILF leadership will be construed as its tacit approval of the criminal acts of its three commander and will be a clear proof of MILF leadership’s insincerity to pursue the conclusion of the peace talks,” Dureza said.
Dureza said the government panel certainly wants peace negotiations “but not at the expense of the law”.
“We have gone a long way for peace but not at the expense of our innocent civilians who seek vindication for the violence inflicted on them by those lawless MILF groups. Our peace loving citizens expect no less. There is no all out war in Mindanao. This is waging all-out peace in Mindanao,” he said.
Comrades in Afghan war
Meanwhile, Anderson admitted his closeness to Bravo. He said he was with the MILF sub-commander in 1982 when they fought for two years as “mujaheedins” in Afghanistan’s war against Soviet forces.Anderson said the MILF will support Bravo and Kato since their surrender to the military would mean further agitate their sympathizers.
“Papayag ba ‘yang mga kumander na ‘yan na isuko lang? Papabitay lang, ipabitay lang? Eh di ba susuko, malalakas na pwersa ‘yan, may mga sympathizer pa yan… Eh maraming mga tao dyan na mag-sympathize sa kanila kahit na di MILF, maka-recruit sila sa ibang mga grupo dyan, o di mas lalaki ang gulo.
He said the government should re-open talks on implementing the MOA-AD to improve the peace situation in Mindanao.
“Kung ‘yan ang napagkasunduan, dadaan tayo sa plebisito. Kung lalabas dyan ‘no’, eh wala kaming magagawa dahil ayaw ng mga tao. We have to respect the will of the people,” he said, referring to the plebiscite that would decide if those villages and areas in the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity will be part of the expanded ARMM.
Anderson added that he sees nothing productive in the continued clashes in Central Mindanao.
“Alam mo, ah, naturally, walang tao na gusto ang gyera, nobody want to war, we know that everybody is loser in war, nobody’s winner in the war,” he said.
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