‘We will not surrender Dan Asnawi until proven guilty’–MILF

MANILA, Philippines—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Tuesday insisted that they will not surrender their wanted commander Dan Asnawi since he has not yet been proven guilty of whatever crime he has allegedly committed.

According to MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar, Asnawi is still presumed innocent until proven guilty under the justice system.

“There must be due process, and before the conclusion of the due process he must not be condemned as criminal, diba ganun ang hustisya? (isn’t that how justice is served?) So why is the government forcing the issue that he (Asnawi) must be surrendered when he is not yet proven guilty as accused of the crime he did in the past?” Jaafar said.

Jaafar added an independent body should investigate the recent skirmishes between the military and MILF elements in Basilan and Lanao del Norte which resulted to the killing of at least 28 soldiers. The MILF has consistently insisted that the military had entered their area of temporary stay and had been attacking MILF camps, which was a violation of the ceasefire agreement and an indication that the government forces disregarded the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the Ad Hoc Joint Committee. He added the ambushes were in retaliation for the attacks made by the military on MILF camps.

“Impartial body ang dapat mag-conduct ng investigation para hindi ma-question yung result ng investigation (An impartial body should conduct the investigation so that the results will not be questioned),” Jaafar said.

“Ang dapat gawin dyan ay investigation, investigate yung incident. Bakit nangyari? Sinong may kasalanan? At pag napatunayang, sino man nagkasala, kung sa panig ng gobyerno, merong sinasabi dun sa provision ng mechanism, sino magsa-sanction, magbigay ng sanction, kung MILF yan kami, kung gobyerno, gobyerno (What should be done is an investigation. Investigate the incident, what happened? Who is at fault? And if proven guilty, whoever is responsible on the side of the government, there is a provision in the mechanism for those who will be sanctioned and who will impose the sanction),” Jaafar added.

Jaafar added the existing peace mechanisms and the prevailing ceasefire agreement between the MILF and the government must be implemented and observed by both parties.

The statement came the same day that the Malacañang told-off the MILF saying that they either cooperate with the military and police’s ongoing operations against lawless elements or they step aside.

The military and police have been assaulting known lairs of lawless elements allegedly responsible for kidnapping and killing incidents in Mindanao. Most of the targets, like Asnawi, are affiliated with the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf Group which operates in Basilan.