Escudero: MILF can help ensure elections push through in Mindanao

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he wants the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to play an “active role” to ensure that the coming May elections will push through in Mindanao.

And the MILF can play its part, he said, by helping secure the transmission towers of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) that have been the subject of at least 17 bomb attacks since last year.

“There can be no better time for the MILF to show good faith and sincerity than now when the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law) is under consideration in the legislature,” Escudero, who is running for vice president in May, said in a statement on Thursday.

READ: MILF won’t endorse any candidate in 2016 polls

The senator said that while the NGCP has issued urgent appeals to the military, police and local residents to help secure its towers, the MILF should take it upon itself to be involved in the security since most of the bombed transmission towers are located in its bailiwick, particularly the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

“These are the areas where the MILF has presence and wields some form of authority. Surely, they will be in a position to secure the NGCP towers,” he said.

As of last week, at least 17 NGCP towers had been reportedly bombed by unidentified suspects, although many residents have blamed the renegade Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) for most of the attacks.

Escudero said the BIFF involvement was an issue that could be contained by the MILF since many of its officials and members have relatives and friends aligned with the group.

“Baka pwedeng arburin na lang ng MILF sa BIFF ‘yung mga NGCP towers ‘wag lang maputol ang kuryente at maantala ang eleksyon sa Mayo,” he said.

(Perhaps the MILF could ask the BIFF if they could claim the NGCP towers, just so the power supply won’t be cut off and disrupt the elections in May.)

READ: AFP vows to secure NGCP towers in Mindanao

The MILF, he said, could also be “instrumental in settling, negotiating for and mediating land claims and zonal problems which have kept the NGCP from throwing a more reliable blanket security around its towers.”

“With its formidable and respected position in Muslim society, the MILF could also intervene in these matters to assure the uninterrupted and efficient operation of the NGCP which will tantamount to peace, order and development in that part of Mindanao,” said the senator.

Escudero pointed out that even the NGCP and President Benigno Aquino III himself have lamented that land claims, zonal problems and unreasonable land owners have stood in the way of the power transmission firm’s objective to provide constant power to Mindanao.

“The MILF holds the key to solving these problems. And should the BBL come into fruition, the MILF leaders should start considering themselves as partners in progress, especially in the power industry,” he further said. CDG