De Lima: MILF can’t invoke peace process to evade raps

Rebels’ use of aliases

De Lima also reiterated her position that revolutionaries, like the leaders and members of the MILF, may be allowed to use aliases as part of “confidence-building measures” and “government concession on safe conduct and security guarantees” for MILF negotiators.

“The very logic and nature of rebel leaders surfacing for peace talks make the continuous use of aliases unavoidable for purposes of moving forward and making possible the conduct of negotiations,” De Lima said in a position paper submitted to the House of Representatives, which is also investigating the Mamasapano clash.

She submitted the position paper to the House investigation amid lawmakers’ concerns about the use of an alias by MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal.

“No rebel organization will trust or believe that the government is sincere in peace talks if it keeps on arresting their negotiators, leaders and representatives for committing rebellion or any offense or crime incidental to rebellion, including the use of war names and aliases,” De Lima said.

Iqbal’s real name

Iqbal’s use of a nom de guerre also became a cause for concern in the Senate, but the senators said it should not be an issue in their work on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which would establish an autonomous Bangsamoro region in Mindanao.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano dug up Iqbal’s records and disclosed on Thursday that the MILF chief peace negotiator’s real name is Datucan M. Abas.

Iqbal did not confirm nor deny that that is his real name.

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