It's final: MILF won't turn in Bravo, Kato
The Philippine Star | 09/02/2008 12:25 AM
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The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will not surrender two of its commanders who carried out brutal attacks on civilian communities in Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato and Sarangani.
Mohaqher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator, said the MILF would not turn over to the government Commanders Ameril Umbra Kato and Abdurahman Macapaar, also known as Commander Bravo, to face prosecution for the attacks last Aug. 18 that left more than 40 people dead and displaced more than 200,000 residents.
"That is final. They will be subject to our own rules but not to that of the government," Iqbal said, even as he belied reports that the two have been killed in previous encounters with the military.
"I assure you, they are alive," Iqbal told reporters via mobile phone.
Guns have been silent in areas of hostility between government troops and Muslim rebels in Central Mindanao since Sunday, the eve of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman for the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said MILF guerrillas have stopped harassing military units and residents in remote villages in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.
Ramadan, the month-long fast of Muslims, started last Sunday night after scholars sighted the new moon which signaled the end of Shaban, the month preceding the fasting season, which lasts for one lunar cycle of 30 days.
Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk and focus on good deeds and reparations for wrongdoings, during the Ramadan. People with ailments are exempted from fasting.
"We are hoping they (MILF) will stop roaming the farming communities within our area of coverage so as to put an end to continuing displacement of people in the areas where they show force," Ando said.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu earlier said the rebels will all be in "defensive posture" during the Ramadan, but will not hesitate to counter any military attack on their territory where they are holding religious activities in connection with Ramadan.
The MILF's website, www.luwaran.com, has warned the people of an outbreak of hostilities in Lanao del Sur if the military would intrude into a government-recognized guerrilla enclave in the province. The rebel peace panel has an office in Butig, Lanao del Sur, where Aleem Abdul Aziz Mimbantas, vice chairman of the MILF for military affairs, is holding office.
The MILF's socio-economic unit, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), also has an office in the same area.
Mimbantas, a Maranaw, is holding out in the area that is now surrounded by hundreds of soldiers, backed by 105 howitzer cannons and armored combat vehicles.
The MILF said its ceasefire agreement with government would collapse if the military attacks the rebel position in Butig.
The military had also prevented the rebels from setting a base camp at the boundary of Carmen and Aleosan, North Cotabato last Sunday.
Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa, Philippine National Police deputy chief for administration, clarified that the police and military operations in Mindanao are purely defensive and follow-up operations.
"We are presently conducting operations, beefing up operations with the AFP and augmenting government forces in the areas of conflict. Purely defensive posturing and follow-up operation for those involved, particularly the forces identified with MILF Commanders Kato and Bravo," said Verzosa.
Verzosa, however, refused to comment whether the joint PNP-AFP operations against the MILF criminal elements would last until the end of the month. "We have no time frame yet."
Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Alexander Yano said the military is very sensitive to Ramadan, but law enforcement against criminals cannot be postponed.
"We have given specific guidelines to our commanders that they should employ appropriate courses of action to accomplish their mission with minimal disturbance to our Muslim community who are observing the holy month of Ramadan," Yano said.
"Our operations are continuing but these are specifically targeting the groups that committed the atrocities," he added.
Soldiers pursuing Kato and Bravo have overrun several MILF camps.
Brig. Gen. Jorge Segovia, acting chief of AFP operations, said that military offensives during the past two weeks have inflicted a large number of casualties among the units of Kato and Bravo. The embattled MILF units have reportedly splintered into smaller groups.
"Even without Ramadan, you will no longer see large-scale operations. Now that they are low on logistics, they choose to move in areas with less chances of engagement with our troops," he said.
For the past 24 hours, there have been no significant encounters reported in the areas, an indication that the MILF's morale and willingness to fight have been greatly degraded.
Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, AFP public affairs office chief, is not discounting the possibility that the MILF would still regroup and stage attacks.
Torres said that even with the observance of Ramadan, troopers would continue pursuit operations against Kato and Bravo, who should not be given a chance to use the holy month as a cover for their activities.
CHR: Limit military operations
Commission on Human Rights Chairman Leila de Lima Monday urged the government to prevent "as much as possible" military operations in Mindanao during the period of Ramadan.
"It's too bad that our call for temporary ceasefire has not been heeded by both sides, but as much as possible we hope that the government will avoid military operations during the period of Ramadan. And if the government should really have to pursue it, we hope our state forces would only limit their operations against the rogue elements Umbra Kato and Commander Bravo," De Lima said.
De Lima reiterated the CHR's call for the government not to pursue its plan to arm civilians in Mindanao in order to avoid exacerbating the already volatile situation in the region.
Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo said Ramadan should not be an excuse for the military to suspend the offensive against the rogue MILF leaders.
He said government troops should continue the manhunt for Kato and Bravo, who he said are terrorists.
He said the military, however, should avoid collateral damage of innocent civilians while they are in pursuit of the rebels.
Speaker Prospero Nograles will seek the advice of lawmakers from Mindanao to find possible solutions to end hostilities, without sacrificing the need for the government to uphold the rule of law.
"My proposal is to get the most senior Mindanao political figures to share in the effort to bring the issues back to the renegotiation table," said Nograles. Senior Mindanao officials that Nograles will meet include Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Simeon Datumanong, Tawi-Tawi Rep. Nur Jaafar, opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona and Sen. Rodolfo Biazon.
Datumanong and Jaafar, aside from being Muslim, are also experts on Mindanao issues; Pimentel hails from Cagayan de Oro City, Guingona is from Bukidnon while Biazon served as Marine commandant in Davao before he became AFP chief in the early 1990s.
"They are all respected Mindanao leaders whose wisdom we should seek. We have to collectively find ways to promote cultural and religious harmony among Filipinos. We have to seek counsel from both our Muslim and Christian brothers, the military and other sectors directly affected by the Mindanao crisis," Nograles said.
Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs, said the MILF's projection of a "full-blown" war was truly unfortunate amid efforts of both the government and the Organization of Islamic Conference to salvage the peace talks.
Tarlac Rep. Jeci Lapus, vice chair of the House committee on good government and public accountability, said any alarming statement about a full-blown war will not help in the pursuit of peace in Mindanao.
"What the peace talks require is only the meeting of the minds. Anything is possible if we move towards it," said Lapus.
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila president and opposition spokesman Adel Tamano called on the government and the MILF to declare an "informal ceasefire" during the Ramadan.
"Our Ramadan is a holy month. It is celebrated worldwide. It is of deep significance for us Muslims," Tamano said. - John Unson, James Mananghaya, Delon Porcalla, Katherine Adraneda, Jaime Laude, Sandy Araneta, Christina Mendez
