Peace talks hamper efforts vs kidnappers

DAVAO CITY — The ongoing peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have stalled efforts to hunt down kidnappers in Mindanao.

A ranking military intelligence officer, who requested anonymity, said the political component of the peace talks has, in a way, strengthened the "Pentagon" kidnap-for-ransom gang by providing its leaders and members a safe refuge in their criminal activities.

The Pentagon gang, led by Tahir Alonto, a foreign-trained MILF leader, has been suspected to be behind the recent spate of abductions in Southern and Central Mindanao.

Five Chinese nationals, a Canadian and a daughter of a wealthy car dealer were among the victims of the kidnap-for-ransom group.

"The problem is every time the kidnap victims are brought to MILF camps for custody, the Army cannot move and anti-kidnapping operatives cannot go about their rescue operations because (the MILF) always (charges that intrusion into their lairs constitutes) a violation of the ceasefire agreement," the intelligence officer said.

He lamented that rescue operations are often hampered by interventions from government officials and political leaders who would ask that these moves be halted because of the peace negotiations.

"Our hands are tied. There is nothing much we can do about it because of the peace talks. It is a reality we have to accept," he said.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol earlier said the Pentagon is actually the criminal arm of the MILF and that the peace talks have become the group’s convenient political front.

"The Pentagon is the MILF, the MILF is the Pentagon. There is no one else who can seek refuge at the Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao where the victims are usually (kept) without the consent of the MILF," Piñol said.

But Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who vowed to relentlessly go after the kidnappers, said he does not mind the ongoing peace talks and that he will go ahead in storming an MILF camp if kidnap victims are confirmed to be kept there.

"I am not a member of the peace panel and I don’t care. These people have committed crimes and they have to pay," Duterte said.