AFP still confident MILF can deal with Umbra Kato

MANILA, Philippines - The military remains optimistic that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) could still iron out its differences with its renegade commander Umbra Kato, who earlier vowed to derail the peace process.

“We are still confident that the leadership of the MILF can do something about the issue of Kato,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs chief Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said in an interview yesterday.

Burgos said they would continue to support the peace negotiations despite Kato’s objection.

“The AFP will always support the government’s peace negotiation efforts and other peace initiatives in resolving conflict situations. We will continue to pursue non-violent means as a primary effort of attaining peace and stability,” he said.

Burgos, however, said the military is ready to protect civilians against any armed group that would sow terror.

 “We are prepared to fulfill our mandate to protect the people. Any armed group that will commit atrocities would be dealt with full force,” he said.

The AFP official stressed that an armed confrontation would be the last option.

“Our field commanders have their own operation plans and guidelines which they would follow to accomplish their tasks and mission in their respective localities,” he said.       

Kato earlier vowed to derail the peace talks as he expressed readiness to fight for his dream of an independent Moro homeland.

“We will continue the fight for liberation,” Kato said in a press briefing in Maguindanao on Monday.

Kato, who was head of the MILF 105th Base Command, said that the peace talks are a waste of time.

He decided to break away from the MILF due to differences on the handling of the peace process. Claiming he has 5,000 armed followers, the renegade leader formed a splinter group called the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement.

The government does not consider Kato a member of the MILF and that the long arm of the law has a way to reach him, according to chief negotiator Marvic Leonen.

Leonen told reporters in a forum in Cotabato City that Kato is also no longer covered by the ceasefire agreement between the government and the MILF.

The forum was also attended by Army 6th Infantry Division commander Gen. Rey Ardo, the chairman of the government’s ceasefire committee, Brig. Gen. Ariel Bernardo, and Brig. Gen. Allan Luga of the GPH anti-crime Ad-hoc Joint Action Group.

Leonen said the government is hoping that the MILF would show Kato is no longer under its command and control.

Text messages have circulated in Maguindanao’s Datu Piang, Datu Saudi and Guindulungan towns that Kato’s henchman, Commander Abunawas, punished five men by cutting off their penises after they were convicted and sentenced by their self-styled Sharia court for having concubines.

Bernardo, however, said they are still verifying the report.

The MILF has issued a resolution declaring Kato and his supporters as bughaat, an Arabic term that refers to anyone who rebels against the ruler or a duly-organized authority.

The resolution stated that Kato and his companions are no longer members of the MILF unless they cease and desist without delay their anti-MILF campaigns.

The resolution also ordered Kato and his companions to return to the fold of the MILF immediately.

MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar maintained that they do not support Kato’s bid for independence.

“We are still for a full autonomy,” Jaafar said yesterday.

He, however, said they would not ask Kato to drop his cause.

“All the Bangsamoro people share his aspirations. Bangsamoro people believe they are being oppressed by the Philippine government. The government is not allowing them to exercise their right to rule themselves,” he said.

Reports said Kato was against the political package offered by the government to the MILF. He has criticized the MILF leadership for its alleged revisionist policy in abandoning its original stance of independence.

Kato claimed that the MILF leadership abandoned him after violent incidents erupted in 2008, when the Supreme Court nullified the controversial memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain. – With John Unson