MILF slams ‘gutter politics’ over Mamasapano clash, defends Aquino

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). AFP FILE PHOTO

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) admitted that it “has very little way to contain the onslaught of emotions and fit of rage” that followed the bloody Mamasapano incident.

In an editorial posted on its website, the MILF blamed “prejudice, hatred, and biases earned for centuries,” which “oligarchic Machiavellian schemers” seized through the use of “the media as willing tool” to advance their demonic agenda”

“Gutter politics is also clearly at play here. Consequently, the casualties are the MILF and the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress. President Benigno Aquino III is not spared either. In fact, if one analyzes closely how media spinners calibrate their attacks, the target is clearly the President,” the editorial for February 8-14 reads.

The MILF also posed this question: “If you were in the shoes of the MILF, what will you do at that precise moment of uncertainty and tense situation?”

It said that its guerrillas did what “anyone in his right mind” would do.

“Instinctively, the law of the hour was to shoot or be shot at or kill or be killed,” the editorial added.

It said that for the MILF forces involved in the clash, the SAF policemen were “armed intruders.”

“Would anyone in his right mind consider armed intruders, whom they never expected, as still friends?” the editorial asked.

The MILF said the reality on the ground was that its forces and the SAF commandos “literally bumped into each other.”

“… (T)he distance separating them, according to one account, was barely four or five meters apart. Without doubt, the villain, as we said in previous editorial, was the lack of coordination by the SAF-PNP commander,” the editorial added.

The MILF said it never expected or anticipated that fighting would erupt between its forces and any government force, especially so that the peace process was about to wrap up.

“Imagine that since 2012, there have been zero encounters between MILF and government forces, thanks to the strict observance of the ceasefire agreement,” the editorial added.

In another video of the encounter, which had been posted on social media as well, a group of unidentified Moro gunmen obviously did not know what was going on when they decided to check out the burst of gunfire emanating from not far from where they had hastily assembled.

“It’s from an Armalite,” one of them said.

The men – numbering about 10 – would often argue on whether or not a band of armed men they saw was enemy or not.

“Mori, don’t fire. Those were Kamar and the other guys, come, let’s go there,” one of them said.

When a barrage of fire met them, the men panicked and fired at a direction one of them said was where the gunfire came from.

Another voice urged them to “pray.”

In the chaos, some of the men tried to locate where their companions were, adding that they might have deserted already.

“No,” said another voice, “they were trying to mount an assault.”

Towards the end of the video, some of the men urged their companions to evacuate what appeared to be an injured gunman.

“Come pare, let’s go,” said one.

“Yes, you go ahead. That’s dangerous,” another said.

Then those left behind turned their sights again on possible enemy positions.

“Is that our colleague?” one asked.

Another one suggested that they wait while another voice said they should go closer and check out.

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