MANILA, Philippines–The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Central Committee should be transparent for the sake of the ongoing peace negotiations between them and the government, a counter-terrorism expert said Wednesday.
Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza confirmed that local jihadist groups in southern Philippines have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. He added that an organization to which both Zulkipli Bin Hir aka Marwan and Basit Usman were members are trying to establish a national character.
“The mainstream MILF has nothing to do with the alliance but it appears they are tolerating it,” Mendoza said during the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) forum.
Mendoza is a retired police intelligence officer and was part of the group who led to the discovery of the Bojinka plot in the 90s which included a plan to assassinate Pope John Paul II.
The MILF’s sincerity in pursuing the peace process has been put in question after Marwan was killed in their area. There are also reports that two MILF members will receive the $6-million reward for giving information about Marwan’s location.
“The MILF Central Committee should be transparent because based on our intel, they have not fully cooperated,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza added that the MILF’s 105th was formerly commanded by Ameril Umbra Kato who has close relationship with Usman.
“The two commanders have links with the IS. That is a very serious question that the MILF has to answer because repeatedly they are telling us that IS presence is negative in Mindanao,” Mendoza said.
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