Alan Cayetano: MILF commander coddled Marwan

MANILA, Philippines – Senate Majority Leader Alan  Peter Cayetano  identified on  Wednesday  one of the commanders of the  Moro Islamic Liberation  Front  (MILF) who  was allegedly helping and protecting Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan.”

Marwan  was  killed during the Mamasapano operation  last January 25 that also left 44 elite policemen  dead.

In a privilege   speech, Cayetano  pointed to Commander  Wahid Tundok  of the  118th  Base Command of the MILF as the one who allegedly  assisted and  protected Marwan.

“Sino po ba si Commander Wahid Tundok? Si Commander  Wahid Tundok  ang isa sa mga pinaka senior at batikang mandirigma ng MILF, sya ay merong patong-patong na kaso. multiple murder, arson  robbery at iba’t iba pang krimen. Si Commander Wahid Tundok ay commander ng 118th Base Command  MILF,”  the senator said.

He said Tundok was  arrested by the police  on February 23, 2014 but was released three days  after supposedly because of the  efforts  of  the   government peace panel.

“Si Commander Tundok  din at ang kanyang mga  tauhan ang isa sa initial sa suspect na kasama sa nagmasaker ng ating gallant SAF (Special Action Force) 44 na kitang kita na ang 118th Battalion ang isa mga  grupong nandun sa area kung saan minasaker ang ating  brave 44,”  Cayetano said.

This was contrary, he said, to  the claim of Secretary Teresita Deles, presidential adviser on the peace process, and  chief peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer  that   Tuldok  was the one  who reported the  Mamasapano “misencounter”  and brokered  the ceasefire  between the  SAF members and  unidentified armed  men.

If indeed it was true, Cayetano then asked   why  Tundok  refused to be interviewed  by the  Board of Inquiry of the Philippine  National Police, which probed the   incident.

“Bakit po? Ano ang dahilan? May mga katanungan  na hindi masasagot ni Commander Tundok, halimbawa, sino ang sumusuporta at tumutulong  at pomoprotekta sa teroristang alias Marwan? Hindi ito masasagot ni Commander Tundok dahil sya mismo ang isa sa mga MILF commanders na tumutulong at pomoprotekta kay Marwan,” he said.

The senator then pointed out the exchange of emails between Marwan and his brother that he earlier released to the media supposedly showing the terrorist ties with the  MILF.

“Dito din sa mga email na ito nakita na si Commander Wahid Tundok  mismo  ang protector ni Marwan,”  he said.

Cayetano then enumerated  the  specific emails , which supposedly proved his allegations.

One email ,  he said, showed that  Tundok was  the one informing Marwan of the sources of purchase of weapons while another email  purportedly showed that he  was  the one who was also telling  Marwan to be  on high alert and “not to sleep because soldiers were planning to attack.”

The  exchange of emails was part of a 32-page  indictment of the U.S. District Court in California against Marwan  and his brother, Rahmat Abdhir, in 2007.