Moro Islamic Liberation Front. AFP FILE PHOTO
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The government has called on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to exert more control over its forces in the wake of abductions linked to rebel forces in the two Lanao provinces.
Peace Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles said it was unfortunate that while the peace panels were busy discussing issues aimed at reaching a final peace agreement in Malaysia, MILF gunmen stormed the Marawi City police station last Friday.
Some 50 MILF gunmen arrived at the Marawi City police office around 12:10 p.m., disarmed policemen on duty and shot dead the brother-in-law of the city police director, Supt. Christopher Panapan, and then set free their two comrades, who were earlier arrested on charges of illegal possession of firearms.
They fled with Panapan as hostage. The police chief was freed about 12 hours later, upon the intercession of several players, including the joint ceasefire committees, local religious leaders and the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team.
“At this point in time when we are in the last stage of the negotiations towards the completion of a comprehensive agreement, it is important that we are able to prove that we have control over our forces, and can protect our communities in our commitment to deliver the much deserved peace and development in the region,” Deles said.
Prior to the Marawi City attack, some 100 MILF rebels under Abdul Macalunto also arrived in Barangay Poblacion in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte and seized a dozen people, including a former vice mayor, according to a military report.
But lawyer James Macaraya, an MILF spokesperson, said only 11 people had been seized by rebel forces and out of those taken in, eight had already been freed.
Macaraya said those seized were actually “arrested” for their involvement in such crimes as drug trafficking, kidnapping, carjacking; and even illegal gambling, among others.
“Since last year, the MILF has been warning Muslims against engaging in similar crimes or they would be punished under Islamic law,” he said by phone.
Macaraya said under Islamic Law, the arrested individuals would only be released if their cases were bailable.
Based on the military report that the Philippine Daily Inquirer got, the eight hostages were made to pay P75,000 at the local Sharia Court.
The remaining captives were still with Aburahman Macapaar or Commander Bravo, the commander of the 102nd MILF Base Command.
Senior Supt. Madid Paitao, Lanao del Norte police director, said it was not the first time the MILF justified the seizure of civilians as part of its responsibility to curb criminality.
He said in the past, even Swertres (illegal numbers game) ushers or those regularly attending cockfights were detained by the MILF.
“Although the intention might be good, the MILF still has to adhere to the rule of law and due process,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Leo Cresente Ferrer, a senior military adviser to the government peace panel, warned the MILF that the abduction of civilians, even if the intention was good, could threaten the peace process.
“We ask the MILF leadership to rein in their forces in the spirit of the positive strides of the peace process both sides (government and MILF) have steadfastly worked on for so many years. A fruitful conclusion would benefit not just the Bangsamoro people but the rest of the people in Mindanao,” Ferrer said in a statement.
“With the peace talks in the end stage, let us not allow untoward incidents, isolated they may be, to obstruct the momentum gained so far by the peace process,” he added.
In her opening statement on December 5 for the 42nd Exploratory Talks, government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer expressed optimism that negotiators would be able to complete the comprehensive agreement to bring in “the desired just and lasting peace and development for the Bangsamoro.”
“Now, we are at the brink of completing the Power Sharing and Normalization Annexes,” she said.
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