Preparation for release of MILF leader underway

MANILA, Philippines - Preparations are underway for the release of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander Wahid Tundok, government peace panel chairman Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said yesterday.

Ferrer said the Cotabato regional trial court recalled the warrant of arrest on Tundok on Tuesday.

Tundok is facing several counts of murder and was arrested by security forces last Feb. 23 at a road checkpoint in Cotabato City.

Tundok is the commander of the MILF’s 118th Base Command, which operates in Maguindanao’s adjoining Datu Piang, Datu Saudi and Salibo towns.

“The (government) panel thanks the Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Adhoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for ensuring, with the assistance of the (Army’s) 6th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the maintenance of the ceasefire and the smooth resolution of the matter,” Ferrer said.

Ferrer said the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) will turn over Tundok to the custody of the MILF-CCCH tomorrow in the presence of the International Monitoring Team, the GPH-CCCH and AHJAG, and several local government officials.

MILF spokesman Von Al-Haq said Tundok was turned over to the Central Committee late Tuesday.

“We followed the necessary process in seeking the release of Wahid Tundok, based on our ceasefire agreement with government,” Al-Haq said.

Datu Saudi town Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom said Tundok stayed overnight at his house in Cotabato City after the police and the military turned him over to the MILF’s central committee.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs, said on Monday that their men facing cases in courts should enjoy temporary immunity from arrest, and even from prosecution, to prevent misunderstandings that can affect the cordiality of their ongoing peace talks with government.

Jaafar gave assurance the arrest of Tundok will not in any way dampen the cordiality of their peace negotiations with government.– With John Unson