CIDG files rebellion raps vs American for posing as UN rep

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The police filed charges of rebellion against an American who pretended to be a representative of the United Nations and assured the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari of the UN’s support in his declaration of independence.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) regional director Senior Superintendent Edgar Danao said Daniel Xavier was charged with rebellion and violation of the international humanitarian law along with 14 other MNLF rebels.

Danao said the case against Xavier and the rebels is the seventh batch of cases filed against the MNLF rebels involved in the three-week siege in Zamboanga City.

Danao said Xavier, who claimed to be a former US Navy man, passed himself off as a UN representative and gave support to Misuari’s declaration of independence from the Philippine government.

Arjun Jain, chief of the Mindanao office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, had denied having a Daniel Xavier in any UN agency.

“The suspect is one of those who instigated the rebels after he pretended as representative of the UN and deceived the MNLF members into joining the independence. That guy promised that the UN will provide medical benefits, the UN supported the declaration of independence and was ready to give 10 ships and assistance as part of the declaration,” Danao said.

Danao said they have evidence that Xavier was with Misuari when he declared independence in Indanan, Sulu last August.

Danao revealed Xavier was last seen in Indanan with Misuari and MNLF commanders Salip Idjal and Habier Malik during their declaration of independence.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman earlier revealed Xavier, in supposedly representing the UN, toured Sulu last August and promised P10,000 and an M-4 assault rifle for each member of the MNLF to participate in a “peace rally” in Zamboanga City. This was three weeks before the Zamboanga crisis broke out on Sept. 9.

Hataman said many of the followers of Malik who had surrendered claimed they were duped into proceeding to Zamboanga City for a peaceful gathering, but ended up fighting government forces instead.