Alan Cayetano bares close ties between Marwan, MILF

Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter  Cayetano  bared on Monday documents that would allegedly   show  the “intimate” relationship between the Moro Islamic Liberation  Front  (MILF)   and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” who was killed  in the Mamasapano encounter last  January 25.

MARWAN

Cayetano said the “intimate  relationship” between the two was   exposed in the warrant of arrest and indictment filed in the  United States against Marwan’s brother, Rahmat Abdhir.

“It’s becoming more and more clear, palinaw nang palinaw na may intimate  relationship si Marwan sa  MILF at buong kasinungalingan na sinasabi nilang hindi kilala at hindi nila pinoprotektahan si Marwan,”  he told reporters in an interview.

In the  indictment,  Cayetano said, the US detailed the e-mailed exchanges between Marwan and his  brother where the former supposedly mentioned his close ties with some MILF commanders.

“Humihingi sya (Marwan) ng pera abroad sa terrorist network to buy guns and  I’’ll give you a copy of  these documents…at makikita  nyo mismo dito yung emails mismo noong magkapatid — si Marwan at yung kapatid nya sa US –  at  kinukwento nya yung mga nangyayari  dito sa Pilipinas,  kinukwento nya yung mga ka close na MILF na commander at yung mga nangyayari dito,”  Cayetano told reporters.

The  documents, he said, also showed the  continued links among  the  MILF, Abu Sayyaf, the  Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

“It’s actual emails between the brothers and detalyado ang kwento ni Marwan tungkol sa MILF at sa role nya dito. And this also continues to confirm  that the Abu Sayyaf, the BIFF , and MILF because  magkakamag-anak   yung iba, continue to have links,” said the senator.

While   reiterating  that he is for peace,  Cayetano said  it should not be with the MILF but  with a new group that could  truly give  peace to the restive  Mindanao.

“Lahat tayo ay gusto ng  peace. Ang stand ko ay ituloy ang peace process. Huwag sa MILF, humanap tayo ng mga kausap dun na magbibigay ng tunay na peace,”  he said.

If the  MILF was indeed sincere  in  forging peace with the government, then  Cayetano  said  the Moro rebels should  come clean about  their  relationship with Marwan.

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