MILF denies ‘insinuations’ in terror alert

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines-An official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has asked Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to go slow on pointing fingers at the rebel group as likely responsible for deploying “terror operatives” to bomb the procession of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila on Monday.

Von Al-Haq, MILF military spokesperson, said the group “vehemently denies such insinuations.”

Al-Haq added that Gazmin’s pronouncements “casts a doubt on the sincerity of the MILF in finding a peaceful solution to the Moro rebellion in Mindanao.”

The peace panels of both government and the MILF are currently holding a formal meeting in Kuala Lumpur, scheduled Jan. 9 to 11.

Over the weekend, government security forces swooped on five suspected safehouses of terrorists out to disrupt the Black Nazarene feast.

Although no arrests were made, and “no trace of the suspects” were established, Gazmin told reporters in Manila Monday morning that the suspects come from Mindanao, one of whom was from Marawi City.

While saying authorities cannot yet be conclusive, Gazmin said they could be Abu Sayyaf or MILF Special Operations Group.