MANILA, Philippines — The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and its breakaway group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had ties with the Abu Sayyaf, President Rodrigo Duterte revealed Tuesday as he urged the two groups to prove they are no longer connected with the bandits.
Duterte believes peace negotiations would not succeed if the MILF and MNLF are tied to the local terrorist organization.
“I want to hear from the MILF and MNLF that they no longer have [a] connection with the Abu Sayyaf because the firearms of the Abu Sayyaf were also their firearms,” the president told soldiers in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.
“If they refuse to sever ties or of if they are still connected with the Abu Sayyaf, I don’t think there will be a significant result,” he added.
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Duterte also mentioned the connection between the Abu Sayyaf and the peace talks during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday.
“Remember that I do not hit the Abu Sayyaf that much because it is really connected with the peace talks between (MNLF founder Nur) Misuari,” he said.
Early this month, Duterte said he does not consider Abu Sayyaf members as criminals despite their involvement in several kidnapping, beheading and bombing incidents. He believes the Abu Sayyaf had staged violent activities because they were “driven to desperation” by “failed promises.”
The president, nevertheless, promised to put an end to the group’s activities during his SONA.
"Since our country continues to be confronted with internal security threats aggravated by the existence and activities of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, the full force of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) will be applied to crush these criminals who operate under the guise of religious fervor," Duterte said.
"The AFP shall enhance its capability to search and engage these rogue and lawless elements," he added.
The MNLF sought to create an independent Islamic state in Mindanao. In 1976, it forged the Tripoli deal with the government, which eventually paved the way to the creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 1996.
Some MNLF members, however, had differences with their leaders and broke away with the group to form the MILF.
In 2014, the Aquino administration signed a peace agreement with the MILF. The deal, however, did not sit well with Misuari, who believes that it violated previous agreements with the MNLF.