Government to free 10 MILF members for peace talks

MANILA, Philippines - At least 10 of 26 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members held at the Camp Bagong Diwa high-risk detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig City on various criminal charges are slated to be released without facing trial as part of the government’s confidence-building measures for the resumption of the stalled peace talks, sources said yesterday.

In an informal meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia late last month, MILF leaders asked the government’s peace panel for the immediate release of their 26 detained colleagues, describing them as political detainees and not criminals. They also asked to be allowed to visit the detainees.

“We were informed by our peace panel that the Department of Justice (DOJ) have reviewed some of the cases and there are about 10 MILF detainees who are being considered for release,” a senior military official confirmed.

The 26 MILF detainees were arrested in a series of military and police operations since 2008 in Mindanao for their alleged involvement in high-profile crimes ranging from illegal possession of firearms and explosives to bombing, arson and multiple murder.

Classified as high-risk detainees, the MILF members were formerly detained in Cotabato provincial jail but moved to Bicutan in order to prevent their escape.

Once approved by the executive branch, the cases filed against the 10 detainees will be withdrawn by the DOJ and they will go free without facing any trial, just like what the DOJ did with the Morong 43, the source said.

The military official, however, said the DOJ has yet to study whether suspected MILF bomb expert Edgar Guerra would be released.

Guerra was arrested late last year at the Davao City International Airport on illegal possession of firearms and explosive charges. The MILF denounced has Guerra’s arrest, maintaining that he was an active peace panel member at the time.

Authorities tagged Guerra, an engineer by profession, as an MILF bomb guru who trained MILF recruits in bomb and demolition operations.

Military and police agents also accused Guerra as the local conduit of the local terrorists with the regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah and the global terror al-Qaeda for foreign funding.

On Thursday last week, the MILF peace panel led by chairman Mohaqher Iqbal were allowed entry into the Bicutan jail facility to visit their 26 detained colleagues. However, Iqbal and his group were only able to meet Guerra.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez said the AFP will fully support the decision of the executive branch over the matter.