MILF promises cooperation in gov’t effort to capture Basit Usman

COTABATO CITY—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Saturday said it would provide full cooperation in the government’s effort to capture Filipino bomber Abdul Basit Usman, who had escaped from the Jan. 25 Mamasapano operation that led to the death of 44 elite policemen and Malaysian Zulfikli bin Hir or Marwan.

“We will help on the aspect (of capturing Usman) but we need to talk it over. The mechanism provides that we should work together. The government can also carry out their own operation provided it is coordinated with us,” MILF chief negotiator Mohaqher Iqbal said.

Iqbal told the Inquirer by phone the MILF’s participation in the manhunt for Usman would be through the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (Ahjag).

Ahjag, which was created in May 2002, is the joint government-MILF body tasked “to interdict and isolate” criminal groups, such as kidnappers and terrorists.

“We have an existing mechanism that can be used for his arrest,” Iqbal said.

But he said the MILF had no idea where Usman was. Military and police intelligence sources said Usman remained near Mamasapano, where the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the MILF operate.

“He is not in our territory,” Iqbal said.

He said this was also the same reason why the MILF could not possibly heed President Benigno Aquino III’s call to the MILF to turn Usman in.

“While it is expected of the MILF to fully cooperate in the quest to bring to the folds of law Basit Usman, all Mindanaons must also do their share to secure peace and order in the area,” North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza said.

She said civilians could also help by maintaining vigilance.

“Restrain and vigilance must be observed. We should all be alert or aware but let us not be impulsive or quick to the draw,” Mendoza said.

Iqbal also said the MILF had decided to return the firearms taken by its ground forces from the slain SAF policemen.

But he said the MILF, as agreed during the meeting of the central committee, would conduct an accounting of firearms to determine how many actually fell into the hands of its men.

As the MILF was still trying to parry allegations of treachery in the aftermath of the Mamasapano incident, another MILF unit was being accused of launching offensive in Tulunan, North Cotabato.

At least 27 B’laan families had fled Barangay New Bunawan there after clashes between militiamen and MILF rebels under the 108th Base Command took place starting Thursday, according to Alfredo Satore, chair of the nearby Barangay Maybula.

The evacuees, Satore said, fled to as far as Maybula.

Satore said it was not the first time the MILF rebels—under Commander Kaming Maligaya and Sandatok Maligaya—attacked hinterland Tulunan villages that served as the province’s borders with Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

In January, three civilians were also injured when MILF rebels came in, he said.

Satore said a long-standing land conflict between MILF members and settlers was the main reason for the violence.