MILF chief negotiator: ‘Our enemy is oppression not PH gov’t’

Mohagher Iqbal. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief negotiator was careful not to give his opinion on some solons’ concerns about the recently submitted Bangsamoro basic bill but went as much to proclaim that their enemy is oppression and not the Philippine government.

Mohagher Iqbal, who attended the first Bangsamoro committee hearing on Wednesday, recounted being asked how their group was able to negotiate with their former enemies.

The Estrada administration, for one, had declared an all-out war against the group.

“How did you face your former enemies in the negotiating table?” Iqbal said as being asked.

The MILF leader said that according to their ideology, the enemy is oppression and not those in government.

“The government or those working for the government is our enemy. Our enemy is oppression,” Iqbal said in Filipino.

“The soldiers are not our enemy. The reason we are here is because we want to talk peace,” he added.

Iqbal was also noticeably mum to give his opinion on some solon’s concerns.

Zamboanga City Representative Celso Lobregat raised the possibility of the MILF having concerns if Congress decides to delete or amend some provisions of the bill.

“We’ve been consistent that we’re not answering hypothetical questions. That’s all,” Iqbal replied.

Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga, meanwhile, raised a proposal to insert a provision explicitly prohibiting secessionist aims in the region. This is supposedly to protect the integrity of the country. But Barzaga later withdrew the proposal.

Iqbal only answered: “Damn if you do, damn if you don’t. My answer is, I don’t have [a] comment.”

Muntinlupa Representative Rodolfo Biazon also asked the leader about the problems in the existing law that created the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which will be replaced by another Bangsamoro political entity if the bill is passed and ratified in a plebiscite.

Iqbal said their group had opposed the creation of ARMM because for them, administrative autonomy is not a solution.

The MILF had opposed autonomy and specifically supported for political autonomy, which would grant them their freedom to govern themselves.

But Iqbal still refused to make a comment out of respect to government and Congress which implemented and crafted the law.

“I am quite hesitant to answer the question out of respect to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the government and Congress,” Iqbal said.

“It’s not that we don’t respect the law. If autonomy is the solution, for us it would not solve the problem. No less than President [Benigno] Aquino said the ARMM is a failed state,” he added.

A 1996 peace pact between government and the MNLF resulted in the passage of the law that created the ARMM. But the Nur Misuari-led MNLF continued its Muslim secessionist movement despite a peace deal. The MILF broke away from the MNLF due to shifting allegiances in leadership.

Rogue members of the MNLF declared independence and staged a failed siege in Zamboanga City in 2013, claiming that their 1996 peace pact was sidelined in the peace agreement with the MILF.

The recently submitted Bangsamoro bill seeks to implement the peace pact signed between the Philippine government and the MILF, which hopes to end decades of Muslim secessionist movement in the region.

Once the bill is passed by Congress, the law must be ratified by a plebiscite for the creation of a Bangsamoro political entity to replace the ARMM.

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