MILF URGED TO STOP LINK UP W/ AMPATUANS / AMAPATUANS CVOs JOIN MILF
MANILA, FEBRUARY 2, 2010 (STAR) The military warned the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) yesterday that preventing authorities from bringing fugitive militiamen to justice could jeopardize the peace process.Speaking to reporters, Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the MILF must stop its commanders from linking up with members of Civilian Volunteer Organizations (CVO) loyal to the Ampatuans.
“We are asking the MILF not to tolerate such alliances,” he said.
“If they (MILF leadership) could control their commanders, their sub-commanders, they should not tolerate these.
“We know that some of these CVOs are facing criminal charges. Some of them were involved in the massacre (in Maguindanao).”
Brawner said the CVOs linked up with the MILF to secure food supplies, while the secessionists are eyeing the weapons and arsenals hidden by the Ampatuans.
“The negotiation with the MILF is important, that is why we are asking the MILF leadership to control their sub-commanders and tell them not to coddle criminals,” he said.
“They can surrender (the CVOs), they can turn them over to authorities.”
Brawner said government troops will engage MILF fighters in combat if they prevent them from running after the CVOs.
“We will continue running after the CVOs,” he said.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said they do not have a partnership with private armies.
However, some of their members may have allied with some of these groups due to blood ties, he added.
Kabalu said they will punish their members who join forces with armed civilian groups.
“Definitely we have sanctions,” he said. “But I cannot say right now. We have processes for that.”
Palace hopes reports are false
Malacañang hopes that the reported MILF-CVO alliance is false.
Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said that the Palace would like to hear from the MILF, as well as the Armed Forces, regarding the report.
“Obviously we would hope that there would be no truth to the rumor because it would obviously be an issue in the ongoing negotiations, which have just started in Kuala Lumpur (in Malaysia) between the government and the MILF,” he said.
Olivar said Malacañang is treating the report as unsubstantiated because the MILF and AFP have not yet given their official statements.
Olivar said some MILF field units act independently of the top leadership.
“A distinction might need to be made between what MILF units in the field are doing and what the top command is authorizing or sanctioning or allowing them to do,” he said.
“Additional information on that report is needed. We don’t want to come to hasty conclusions or premature judgments about these kinds of reports because we are in the middle of an important and sensitive peace negotiation process.”
Olivar said the military and the MILF must be given all the time they need for due diligence.
“The best attitude is to note the reports and give the parties enough time to conduct their respective investigations and make the proper explanations to the public,” he said.
The MILF and the government have resumed peace talks after they broke down more than a year ago.
Representatives of the two sides are in Malaysia, which has been acting as the facilitator of the peace talks. – Alexis Romero, Marvin Sy
AFP: Ampatuan CVOs have joined up with MILF By Rose Tamayo-Tesoro (The Philippine Star) Updated February 01, 2010 12:00 AM
BULUAN, Maguindanao, Philippines – More than 400 militiamen loyal to the Ampatuans have joined the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in racing against government troops to retrieve the clan’s arsenal buried in various parts of Maguindanao, the military said yesterday.
Army Maj. Randolf Cabangbang told The STAR members of the Civilian Volunteer Organizations (CVOs) implicated in last year’s Maguindanao massacre had linked up with the 106th MILF Base Command.
“In exchange for firearms and pledge to help them locate and unearth the buried firearms of the Ampatuans, the MILF under the 106th Base Command in Shariff Aguak are now protecting the Ampatuans’ militiamen,” he said.
Intelligence reports said the MILF forces are led by Commanders Adam and Itim Ampatuan, close relatives of Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., principal suspect in the Maguindanao massacre.
Cabanbang said the MILF fighters belonging to the 106th Base Command were able to recover more than 300 high-powered firearms believed owned by the Ampatuans in the hinterlands of Shariff Aguak with help from the militiamen.
“Hindi lamang mga pulis at military operatives ang naghuhukay ngayon ng armas pati na ang mga MILF at ang mga natitirang mga militiamen ng mga Ampatuans na nakikipag-kumpetensiya at nakikipag-unahan sa mga government operatives na ma-recover ang mga hidden firearms at validated ‘yang report na ‘yan,” he said.
‘GMA also to blame for massacre’
President Arroyo must bear part of responsibility for the cold-blooded killing of nearly 60 civilians in Maguindanao last year, according to a lawmaker.
Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III said Mrs. Arroyo cannot wash her hands of the Maguindanao massacre.
“How can GMA be blameless for the massacre?” he asked. “How can she claim that the violence was simply a result of a family feud?”
Guingona said the Ampatuans lorded it over Maguindanao with the consent of the administration.
“The Ampatuans were GMA’s local warlords,” he said.
“If she truly wanted to enforce the rule of law, then she should have imprisoned the members of all warring clans found guilty of violent acts. Instead, she promoted the Ampatuan clan because she benefited from their actions.
“The Ampatuans had played a significant role in ensuring GMA’s victory in the 2004 presidential election. They also delivered an incredible 12-0 victory for GMA’s senatorial bets in 2007.”
Guingona said the Ampatuans’ multi-million peso mansions in Maguindanao and in Davao City are proof of their “excesses.”
“They lived like absolute monarchs in their impoverished province, while most Maguindanaoans wallowed in poverty,” he said.
Ampatuan Sr. still in military hospital
DAVAO CITY -- Former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. remains a patient at the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command hospital inside Camp Panacan for almost two months now.
Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, Eastmincom spokesman, said Ampatuan Sr. remains confined in his room in the military hospital.
The military is awaiting an order from the Department of Justice as to where to detain Ampatuan Sr., he added.
Cabangbang said Ampatuan is being monitored for his diabetes and hypertension.
Lately he has been undergoing physical therapy as a result of the ailment borne out of lengthened hospital stay, he added. — With Jess Diaz, Edith Regalado
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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