MILF mum on Usman

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front prepared to turn over to the government terrorist bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman? The MILF is not saying.

MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar refused to give a categorical answer regarding the whereabouts of Usman, who reportedly escaped during the police raid in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

“If you want me to answer if Usman is with us or not, I have no categorical answer to that,” Jaafar told The STAR yesterday when asked if Usman is with the MILF.

But he denied that the rebel group protected Usman and his Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) cohort, Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.

When asked whether some MILF members are protecting terrorists, Jaafar said “they cannot do that.”

He would not say whether the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), supposedly a breakaway group of the MILF, provided a safe haven to Usman and Marwan.

President Aquino, in a nationally televised address last Thursday, warned the MILF to surrender Usman or else government forces would get him even without the rebel group’s help.

Aquino warned those who get in the way of Usman’s capture that state forces “would run you over.”

Forty-four members of the police Special Action Force (SAF) were slaughtered by combined teams of the MILF and BIFF in the Mamasapano operation in which Marwan was believed killed.

Jafaar was quick to point out that the MILF understood the stand of the President on terrorist coddlers, adding he did not feel Aquino “was exerting pressure” on the secessionist group.

“I listened to the message of the President. I understand it as he is the President of the Republic of the Philippines,” Jafaar said.

Jafaar stressed that whatever action the MILF would take should adhere to the agreements it earlier entered into with the government since the peace talks started.

“All our actions with regard to Usman should be based on the peace process and our commitment to the Bangsamoro people, which means these have to be in accordance with our agreements with government,” he said.

He was referring to the agreements on ceasefire and cessation of hostilities and the creation of a joint team from the government and MILF panels as well as an agreement that established the International Monitoring Team.

Jafaar said the MILF action shall also be based on the agreement on the creation of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), a mechanism created as part of the peace process to isolate and interdict lawless groups and terrorists.

Jafaar said all the actions of the MILF pertaining to the case of Usman would be based on those agreements.

‘MILF knew Marwan, Usman were in Mamasapano’

Meanwhile, military sources said yesterday that the MILF knew about the presence of Marwan and Usman in Mamasapano.

The sources said Barangay Tukanalipao, where the clash occurred, is the base of the MILF 105th Base Command.

A military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the group tolerated the terrorists’ presence and did not run after them.

The source said that during the start of peace negotiations, the MILF tried to drive away JI members from its bailiwicks in Butig, Lanao del Sur.

“The MILF did not mind (the terrorists) when they were outside the barangay. It was like a peaceful coexistence,” the source added. – With Christina Mendez