Cayetano to MILF: Abandon terrorism or be wiped out

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano attends the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City. He is an adopted member of PMA Class of 1992. FRANCES MANGOSING

BAGUIO CITY—“If you want the Bangsamoro Basic Law, turn away from terrorism.”

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano warned the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to turn its back from terrorism or else they would be wiped out.

“You do not negotiate with terrorists. So the MILF has to choose. Gusto nyo ng BBL, talikuran niyo ang terorismo. Kung hindi mo tatalikuran ang terorismo, pupulbusin lang kayo ng Republika ng Pilipinas (If you don’t turn your back on terrorism, the Republic of the Philippines will crush you),” he told reporters on Saturday at the Philippine Military Academy Homecoming held at Fort del Pilar.

Cayetano is an adopted member of PMA Class of 1992.

Reports surfaced said that an Indonesian jihadist, identified as Amir Ibrahim, was among those to be targeted by the Mamasapano operation last month.

The senator has also recently cited reports showing the MILF’s alleged links to terrorist organizations.

The target of a botched police raid on Jan. 25 were two known terrorists, Zulfikli bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman. Both were reportedly within the area of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which is also close to the MILF turf.

The covert operations led to the deaths of 44 police officers as they battled with members of the MILF and BIFF in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The MILF, which signed a peace deal with the government, had repeatedly denied coddling the two terrorists.

“Ilang operation ka na hinahanap ng gobyerno. Magtatago ka ba sa lugar na tingin mo hindi ka safe? (The government has conducted many operations in search of you. Would you hide somewhere you think you’re not safe?) Obviously, Marwan felt safe in that area which is controlled by the MILF,” Cayetano said.

“So wag na tayong maglokohan (let’s not kid ourselves), they continue to be in bed with jihadists and extremists. Ang pinaglalaban nilang sabi nila ay yung karapatan ng Bangsamoro sa Mindanao but that means na hindi sila extremists, that means walang kasama dito na jihadists (They’re fighting for Bangsamoro rights in Mindanao but that should mean they’re not extremists. No jihadists are included here.)”