Residents of areas covered by the Bangsamoro entity could only hope for lasting peace. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/www.opapp.gov.ph
MANILA, Philippines— Who started it?
The National Democratic Front on Thursday accused “police” and “government’s intelligence group” of provoking the clash between its members and Muslim groups in Mendiola.
“We also do not set aside the possibility that the violence was provoked by agents of the Philippine National Police and the government’s intelligence group as the attackers came from beside the watching police forces and uniformed state intelligence personnel,” the NDF said in a statement.
A scuffle erupted between some NDF members and Muslim groups while the latter was reading verses from the Koran. The Muslim groups were holding their celebration of the scheduled signing of the Bangsamoro peace pact.
The melee left 10 militants hurt. The police, however, said that only one civilian, who was not even involved in the protests, turned to them to report his injury.
The NDF said it “meant no disrespect to our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters.”
“We respect and support their aspiration for genuine just and lasting peace in Mindanao,” it added.
The NDF and other revolutionary organizations held a “lightning rally” in Mendiola to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the New People’s Army and to condemn the arrest of their leaders, Benito and Wilma Tiamzon.
Holding rallies in several areas in the metro is something the NDF does annually, it said in the same statement. But at the same time, it also criticized the violence “instigated” by a few members of the Bangsamoro.
“We however condemn the violence instigated by a few provocateurs from the Bangsamoro protesters. The failure of Bangsamoro protest organizers to calm down and hold their ranks forced our self-defense units were to protect and defend our ranks. We stand firm that the misunderstanding could have been resolved peacefully,” the NDF said.
RELATED STORY
Militant groups, Metro Moros clash in Mendiola