Senator Pimentel: Focus on bigger issues than Iqbal’s name

There are more substantive things to discuss concerning the peace process than the use of a nom de guerre by the chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Saturday.

Pimentel said he would rather focus on the question of whether the MILF, once it has become part of the government of the proposed autonomous Bangsamoro region, could go after and disarm other armed groups in Mindanao as part of its new responsibilities.

He said it would also be better to focus on the issues concerning the constitutionality of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the roles of indigenous people, the police and the military in the new autonomous region.

No deception

According to Pimentel, who is also a lawyer, Mohagher Iqbal’s use of an alias is not a cause for grave concern because there is no deception involved.

The law regulating the use of an alias applies if there is an attempt to deceive or take advantage of somebody, he said.

Pimentel pointed out that the government is dealing not with Iqbal as an individual, but with his group, the MILF, the name of which remains the same.

“There are harmless uses of an alias, especially if the other party consents,” he said in a phone interview. “For me, it’s not an issue.”

If Moro Islamic Liberation Front is not the real name of Iqbal’s group, then that could be an issue, Pimentel said.

Gov’t knows

Malacañang has said it knows Iqbal’s real name and that it has allowed him to use his nom de guerre in the revolutionary group for his security.

Some senators are questioning Iqbal’s use of an alias, saying it shows lack of good faith on the part of the MILF, and they warn that it might jeopardize the peace process.

But Pimentel thinks there are bigger questions of consequence that deserve more attention.

He said it was more important to him to know if the MILF would tolerate other armed groups after the establishment of the Bangsamoro region.

The MILF is expected to play a big part in administering the affairs of the new region since it will run in the election for the new region’s officials.

Other armed groups

A World Bank-funded study released last week said that the government still has to contend with other armed groups, including emerging sources of threat, in Mindanao after achieving peace with the MILF.

Pimentel said that based on the information he got, once the BBL is passed, the Bangsamoro regional government should have the task of disarming other armed groups.

“In the BBL, one of the things I would look at, I have to make sure that in the law, that is made the responsibility of the Bangsamoro regional government,” he said.

“At the same time, we have to ask the MILF—there is a big sense it will run the regional government—are you willing to run after and disarm all of these other armed groups with which you have seemingly coexisted peacefully?” he said.

Pimentel said he believed many other legislators were asking the same question at the back of their minds.

Mamasapano incident

He noted that part of the doubt arises from the Mamasapano incident, where 44 police Special Action Force commandos were slain in a clash with the MILF, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and other armed groups in Maguindanao province on Jan. 25.

The policemen infiltrated into Moro rebel-controlled Mamasapano town to arrest three alleged terrorists.

The MILF called the clash a mistaken encounter, saying it happened because MILF fighters in the area were unaware of the police operation.

Seventeen MILF fighters and three civilians were also killed in the clash.

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