MILF: Blast meant to derail peace talks, call in GIs

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) claimed yesterday that the renewed terror bombings in Davao City were a calculated move to derail peace negotiations between the Muslim separatist group and the government.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the bombings might have also been intended to prompt the government to call in US troops to fight the MILF.

"Or it could have been aimed at really igniting a Muslim-Christian war in Mindanao," Kabalu told The STAR.

Despite speculations that the MILF was behind the bombing, Malacañang said the government was still committed to pursuing peace negotiations with the rebels.

"We will continue working for peace although these (bombings) are all very disruptive of the peace efforts in Mindanao," said government chief negotiator Jesus Dureza.

"This is not only unfortunate but (also) an act of a sick mind that everyone should condemn," he added.

Dureza said the government panel is awaiting the official results of investigations into the incident.

"We don’t want to speculate. I think it’s the best way to handle this," Dureza said.

"It’s too early to say, as I said authorities are still looking into this incident and we should not speculate. We would wait for the results of investigation because our authorities, I’m sure, are doing what is appropriate," he pointed out.

Dureza expressed his belief that the MILF is also committed in resuming peace talks with the government panel in Kuala Lumpur with the Malaysian government acting as third party facilitator.

Immediately following the blast, President Arroyo directed Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to coordinate with local law enforcement authorities in the investigation.

Duterte was earlier appointed crisis manager by Mrs. Arroyo following the Davao airport blast last month.

"I’m directing the government panel to verify the (Davao wharf bombing) incident in the light of this. I will ask the peace panel to verify the facts behind the incident and then make appropriate recommendations," Mrs. Arroyo told Dureza.

"Meanwhile, the military and the police will not hesitate to take on criminals and terrorists and make sure the civilian communities are protected," she said, adding "hot pursuit is unimpeded."

Duterte, for his part, went slow in blaming the MILF for the Sasa wharf bombing, a big deviation from his stand when the March 4 airport bombing occurred.

"I have become tempered and we are still putting together the pieces of evidence. And if we could come to the conclusion that would still point to the MILF (as responsible), just wait for that time," the mayor said.

Proof of purchase

A ranking Mindanao legislator, however, insisted the MILF was behind the latest bombing.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, chairman of the House committee on defense, said the MILF has the capability to stage such bombings.

This was proven by receipts recently recovered from its former stronghold in Pikit, North Cotabato, which showed the purchase of arms from foreign suppliers worth $2 million. This may just be the tip of the iceberg, he said.

"What was the trade-off for these funds? We hope the collateral was not the blood of innocent Filipinos caught in the crossfire of an international terror campaign," Pichay said.

Military intelligence sources also blamed the MILF for the blast.

A ranking military official told The STAR yesterday that the MILF has apparently lost control of their field operatives and was no longer aware of what their men are doing on the ground.

The MILF, for its part, claimed terrorists who wanted to start a religious war in Mindanao was behind the bombings of the mosques in Davao City early yesterday.

The mosque bombings occurred barely hours after a powerful bomb ripped through the city wharf at the Sasa district, killing at least 16 people and wounding dozens.

"We urge our Muslim brothers in Mindanao, especially in Davao City, to stay calm and not to hurt our Christian brothers because the war we are waging against the military is not a religious war," Kabalu said.

Kabalu also assured residents in this city that they will not disrupt the peace and order situation as he maintained the MILF had nothing to do with the latest bombing in Davao City.

"We admit we have an ongoing campaign but it is against the military and not against civilians. The MILF is a mass-based organization and we could not afford to isolate the civilians who are supporting us in our struggle for an independent Islamic state by killing them and targeting them for bombings," he stressed.

Kabalu said the MILF is also conducting its own investigation into the bombings and extending assistance to the government to find and arrest the culprits.

"We are extending our assistance to the government. It’s up to them to accept it. But we have nothing to do with the bombings," he said.

Kabalu said Davao is the principal target of terrorists because the city is perceived to be a "showcase of Mindanao."

If the terrorists succeed in putting Davao into chaos, then they would tarnish the image of the whole Mindanao, he said.

Without mentioning any names, the MILF spokesman said the bombings in Davao could be the handiwork of people or groups "who wanted the peace talks to fail."

But in previous interviews, Kabalu pointed out that certain top officials in the military — whom he called the "Council of Generals" — wanted a war in Mindanao "because of their own personal agenda."

For his part, Pichay said the MILF attacks now cast doubt on the wisdom of pursuing peace talks with the Muslim rebels.

"The blasts are a deal-breaker and an eye-opener. Also the MILF’s foreign connections leave us in the dark about who we are really negotiating with," Pichay said.

Pichay added that "the burden of proof is now on the MILF to show firm adherence to the peace process, disprove links with foreign terrorists and cleanse its ranks of extremist elements."

But for Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., chairman of the Senate defense committee, "such chaos (bombings) will not stop the government from pursuing the recently initiated peace talks with the MILF."

"We would like to emphasize that the GRP panel will not engage in finger-pointing and will instead ensure that an objective investigation of these bombings is arrived at in the soonest possible time," Magsaysay said.

Magsaysay said reports of alleged involvement of the MILF, a breakaway group, or even the military, will be set aside to pave the way for a fair investigation.

The Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) said the latest bomb attack in Davao was actually ploy of "a third force" aimed at putting a wedge between Christians and Muslims in Mindanao.

According to Undersecretary Zamzamin Ampatuan, OMA chief, a third force with ties to the al-Qaeda network of international fugitive Osama bin Laden operating in Asia, could have carried out the bomb attack.

"We can see the pattern here, it’s the handiwork of extremists, they want to create an atmosphere of chaos in Mindanao," Ampatuan said.

Ampatuan theorized that the March 4 bomb attack at the Davao airport and the Sasa wharf incident were carried out by one group.

He, however, warned authorities against implicating Muslim groups in the attack, as this may further drive a wedge between Christians and Muslims.

"Whoever ordered the attack, his main objective is to let the police and military pin the blame on the Muslim groups. It’s actually a trap," he said.

The spate of bombings drew adverse reactions from various groups even as President Arroyo placed Davao under a "state of lawlessness," which puts the military in charge of maintaining peace and order.

Militants led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) raised their concern over this development and claimed such order might again lead to a "hysterical witchhunting spree" that could possibly result in more violations of human rights and civil liberties.

"We strongly condemn the bomb attack at Sasa wharf. We share in the grief of concerned families and the people of Davao City. But we are concerned with President Arroyo’s declaration of a state of lawlessness and her order for the police and military to initiate a crackdown against suspected terrorists and lawless elements," Bayan secretary general Teodoro Casiño said.

Vice President Teofisto Guingona also condemned the Davao blast, saying the killing of "innocent civilians, for whatever reason, was unpardonable and senseless."

"All it courts is a worsening spiral of counter-violence of Filipino against Filipino which must end. Those responsible, whoever they are, must be brought to justice to answer for their crime," Guingona said.

Guingona also urged government to pursue the peace negotiations with the MILF, notwithstanding accusations that the rebel group was behind the bombings. – With Marichu Villanueva, Paolo Romero, Edith Regalado, Perseus Echeminada, Katherine Adraneda, Jaime Laude, Sammy Santos