A BREAKDOWN in the deliberations on the Bangsamoro Basic Law may force the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to resort to terrorism, even as a Moro leader warned that one of the “vengeance targets” could be media outfits that have published negative news about the controversial bill.
“They are going to resort to terrorism,” said Absalom Cerveza, spokesman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) from which the MILF broke away when it decided to pursue its own peace agreement with the government in the 1980s.
Cerveza said terrorism was the only response the MILF would be able to come up with because the rebel group “has no capacity to overthrow the government should they wage an all-out war.”
“They will resort to terrorism because they cannot campaign politically for the BBL. They cannot go out and tell the people that they were betrayed. No one will believe them,” Cerveza said.
Cerveza said the MILF had long been considering subsequent actions if the government failes to deliver on its promises.
“In my huddle with MILF peace negotiator Mohaquer Iqbal in Cotabato City, I asked him, ‘have you ever thought of the possibility that the government may betray you?” and he ansered ‘yes.’”
“We will not be surprise if (the government) will betray us,” Cerveza quoted Iqbal as saying. “Let the moments decide what is going to happen.”
But even among Moros, Cerveza said the MILF leadership is losing support because they are perceived to be too involved with their personal wealth.
Cerveza made the claim after another source claimed that at least 200 MILF fighters are already in Metro Manila and one of their potential targets are media outfits critical of the BBL, an imitation of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris last January.
The source said MILF fighters have started “jihad” prayers in Mindanao and attacks could include attacks on government officials, military detachments as well as bombing of key government and private installations.
“If they wanted to, they can do it. They can even exact revenge by killing journalists. However, the force of public opinion is very hard to defeat,” Cerveza agreed, noting that MILF leaders are not using their personal assets to promote the BBL.
“Their wealth will go up in smoke… They will not sacrifice their personal assets,” Cerveza said. “The MILF has lost its credibility compared to the time of former MILF Chairman Hashim Salamat who has an ideology and idealism.”
“It’s obvious that they received a lot of money and favors and that is why they yielded to the government,” Cerveza said.
But while the military was closely monitoring terrorist activities in Mindanao, the Armed Forces of the Philippine said they have not monitored any serious MILF activity in Metro Manila.
“We are ready to confront any armed aggression regardless of groups and we will not tolerate anyone from carrying out aggression against anyone,” said Lt. Col. Horold Cabunoc, Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief.
Meanwhile, the MILF breakaway group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters again attacked a military position in Maguindanao and injured six army soldiers who were hit by a grenade launcher fired by BIFF fighters.
Military reports indicated that the six soldiers were hit by 40mm grenade launchers fired by the BIFF near the troops of the 23rd Mechanized battalion in Barangay Sambulawan in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao at about 6:50 pm Thursday.
Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the troops were conducting blocking operations against BIFF rebels earlier engaged into an ensued fighting in Barangay Sambini in Datu Saudi town last Wednesday, when fired upon by the terrorists.
Petinglay said the troops scampered for battle position and retaliated heavily against the BIFF rebels, inflicting several casualties on the enemy side.
The BIFF attacks was the third incident since the appointment of Esmael Abubakar, alias Bungos as the new BIFF chieftain following the death of BIFF top leader Ameril Umbra Kato last Tuesday due to heart attack.