The military and Moro National Liberation Front finally settled a dispute that stemmed from the death of an MNLF member while soldiers were pursuing the Abu Sayyaf. The Army says the MNLF is not a threat in Basilan, but rather a partner in fighting the Abu Sayyaf. FRANCES MANGOSING/INQUIRER.net
ISABELA CITY, Basilan—The Philippine Army in Basilan and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) finally settled a dispute that stemmed from the death of an MNLF member last year.
Both parties signed an agreement for the reconciliation of the dispute last Oct. 23 in Barangay (village) Masola in Isabela City.
An MNLF member was killed in an encounter with government troops in August last year, while the soldiers were pursuing the Abu Sayyaf. Because of the incident and the lack of coordination, the MNLF did not allow the military to pass through their area for their operations.
A blood money of P150,000 was also required by the MNLF for their dead member as part of the settlement.
The military considers the MNLF as a partner in its peace efforts in Basilan rather than a threat, and 4th Special Forces Battalion commanding officer Lt. Col. Andrew Bacala worked on the reconciliation of both parties by asking help from the local government.
“We initiated it kay Mayor Akbar. Sa part namin hindi kami makakapagbigay ng blood money pero kailangan ayusin (with the help of Mayor Akbar. We couldn’t give blood money but we have to settle it) once and for all,” he said.
“Kapag hindi na-settle hindi makakapasok, hindi makakalakad kung hindi kami magpapaalam. It’s proper na ma-settle para kung pupunta kami dun sa lugar walang alinlangan, wala kaming iniisip na may ma-ambush,” he said.
(If the issue is not settled, we couldn’t pass through their area, we couldn’t continue our operations if we won’t ask for permission. It’s proper to settle it so that if we would pass through their area, there would be no doubts and we would not worry about that someone might be ambushed.)
All parties were present at the settlement, and the local government paid for the blood money.
“Mabuti yung nagkasundo [a]ng MNLF at AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines). Mas maganda tuloy-tuloy ang kapayapaan ng kabilang panig sa pagitan (It’s good that the MNLF and AFP have settled the issue. It’s better that there is continued peace on the other side),” said Commander Abugao, the MNLF leader in Barangay Masola.
He added that the Army was also now allowed to pass through their area during their operations just as long as there would be proper coordination so a similar incident would not happen again. RAM/rga
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