Turn your back on terrorism, Cayetano tells MILF

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) should prove that it shuns terrorism if it wants the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to be enacted, a senator said on Saturday.

Sen. Alan Cayetano said reports that an Indonesian jihadist was killed during the January 25 encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao proves that the MILF “continues to be in bed” with extremists.

“The worldwide government policy is you do not negotiate with terrorists so the MILF has to choose. You want BBL? Then you should turn your back on terrorism,” Cayetano told reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Military Academy alumni homecoming here.

“(Kung) hindi mo tatalikuran ang terorismo, pupulbusin lang kayo ng republika ng Pilipinas (If you don’t turn your back on terrorism, you will be pulverized by the Republic of the Philippines),” he added.

Cayetano was reacting to a report by The STAR that an Indonesian and two other Western-looking jihadists were among those killed by members of the Special Action Force (SAF) during the Mamasapano clash.

A security official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Amir Ibrahim, the slain Indonesian, had helped wanted terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir or Marwan train the MILF and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in bomb making.

The source said they are also verifying reports that two Caucasians died during the encounter, which also left 44 police commandos dead.

Reports about the alleged ties between the MILF and extremists came as the government is pushing for the passage of the BBL, a measure that will form a new Bangsamoro region with enhanced political powers.

Lawmakers have suspended the deliberation on the bill until the Philippine National Police completes its investigation on the incident.

Cayetano remains skeptical of the MILF’s sincerity to the peace talks and insisted that the group has not been faithful to its agreement with the government.

“Whether it is about returning the stolen equipment (of SAF members) or whether it’s about the connection with the terrorists, the MILF should do much much much much more to show that they're trustworthy and that they are sincere,” he said.

The MILF has been accused of coddling terrorists after Marwan was killed in an area inhabited by its members.

The group has denied the allegation and insisted that it is committed to the peace process.

MILF officials also claimed that they were not aware that Marwan was staying in Mamasapano but some critics, including Cayetano, are not buying it.

“Obviously, Marwan felt safe in that area which is controlled by the MILF. So let us not fool each other,” Cayetano said.

Marwan was a Malaysian terrorist who served as head of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist network in the Philippines.

The United States offered $5 million for information that will lead to his arrest.

Marwan was killed by SAF troopers shortly before the Mamasapano clash but his Filipino cohort Basit Usman managed to escape.