Alan Cayetano bares close ties between Marwan, MILF

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

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.