MILF expects 'hell' in Basilan with expiration of military deadline

'Hell' could let loose anytime from now as the deadline for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) turn over the 'beheaders' of the Marines expired yesterday.

"There is an eyeball to eyeball situation in Basilan and anytime full-fighting erupts if the government does not overturn itself by calling off the all-out war against the MILF," MILF Base Command chief Musawwarin Abubakar said Monday.

Abubakar disclosed that practically the whole of Basilan is saturated with soldiers in full battle gear and ready to start hostilities anytime today.

The military has placed on standby four Marine battalions-- two already stationed in Basilan and another two from Sulu-- as well as 28 companies of Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) militiamen.

"Once we receive the final order we will combat and strike selective areas where the perpetrators are believed to be hiding to bring justice to the killing and mutilation of the Marines," said Admiral Emilio Marayag, who is the Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command chief.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of the MILF General Staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that once the military start the hostilities in Basilan the possibility of a spillover or escalation in other areas in Western Mindanao, as sympathy reactions, is very probable.

"We don't have control over relatives of the MILF fighters in other areas not to sympathize with those in Basilan," he stated.

He said it is better that the national government gives way to a third party to conduct the inquiry on  the beheading incident to determine who were responsible.

But the problem, he added, is that after requesting the Malaysian government to allow the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to lead the inquiry, the Arroyo administration, instead of waiting for the IMT to start the probe and the findings, threatened the MILF with an all-out war and started to send to Basilan thousands of Marines.

"With is awkward situation, the IMT is having a second thought whether to proceed with the probe or not," he disclosed.

He said if the MILF gives in to this threat and unreasonable demand of the government, it is the end of everything for itself.