‘Erap’s all-out war strengthened MILF forces’

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) emerged even stronger after the all-out war launched against it by the Estrada administration in 2000, according to the rebel group’s vice chair for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar.

“Experience showed how the MILF has grown in strength because of what Estrada did to Camp Abubakar then. The more you attack our people, the more they would fight back. That is why we had more members joining us after Estrada launched the all-out-war,” Jafaar said on Friday.

However, this was denied yesterday by Estrada, who argued that the attacks had even forced then MILF leader Hashim Salamat to flee to Malaysia.

The military overran Camp Abubakar in sustained air and land offensives ordered by Estrada, who is now Manila mayor.

The President visited the camp after the assault and reportedly feasted on lechon with victorious troops.

Jaafar said more recruits came in after the fall of the camp, which straddles several towns in Maguindanao.

He said the MILF appreciates President Aquino’s peace initiatives – particularly the latter’s vigorously pushing for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) – amid challenges posed by the Mamasapano incident where 44 Special Action Force commandos died at the hands of the guerrillas.

He lauded Aquino for making clear that there is no substitute for peace in Mindanao.

“It is true. There is no other solution to the Bangsamoro problem except peace. If the solution is going to war, then the problem would become bigger,” Jaafar said.

On Friday, President Aquino said he is organizing a “peace council” to improve the BBL. He said he is eyeing “citizen leaders” like Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and tycoon Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala as “independent convenors.”

Aquino’s announcement coincided with the first anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which was the basis for the BBL.

A House ad hoc committee deliberating on the BBL suspended hearings on the measure in the wake of the Mamasapano tragedy.

Jafaar said critics of the BBL should come up with an alternative solution before calling on lawmakers to reject the measure.

“They should not just keep talking without coming up with a solution to the Mindanao problem,” Jafaar added.  

‘All-out war a success’

 Meanwhile, Estrada told The STAR the MILF would have been a spent force by now had former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo not allowed Salamat to return from Malaysia to reorganize the rebel group.

“We were able to seize all the 46 camps of the MILF, including its biggest camp when I launched the all-out-war against the MILF,” Estrada said in a phone interview.

He said the rebel group surrendered its weapons after the offensive, but Arroyo ordered these returned when she assumed the presidency after his ouster in 2001.