‘MILF’ forces seize illegal drug traders

COTABATO CITY—Alleged members of a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Tuesday seized suspected illegal drug traders from policemen who were bringing them to the police headquarters in Marawi City.

Chief Superintendent Noel delos Reyes, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police chief, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone Thursday that on April 22, policemen from Picong town were flagged down by more than a hundred MILF members along the national highway in Balindong town.

“Our men were heading to the police headquarters in Marawi City to turn over the eight men they arrested,” Reyes said, adding those accused, all members of MILF, were reportedly involved in illegal drugs trade in Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte.

Senior Superintendent Nickson Muksan, police chief for Lanao del Sur, said the MILF forces confiscated seven high-powered firearms and four pistols from the police.

Those behind the incident were alleged MILF members under Commander Bravo, whose real name is Abdulrahman Macapaar.

Bravo, along with Ameril Umbra Kato, then leader of MILF’s 105th Base Command and now founder of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, simultaneously launched attacks in August 2008 in Mindanao after the failed signing of peace agreement.

The Inquirer tried but failed to get the reaction of anyone from the MILF senior leaders. Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao