There were so much treachery and barbarism that marked the spate of attacks by renegade commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels. Under the leadership of Commander Bravo, the MILF breakaway group did not only kill soldiers they ambushed but also murdered and maimed even civilians in several towns they pillaged in Lanao del Norte and in Saranggani on Monday. These MILF rampage stretched all the way to North Cotabato last week under the direction this time of MILF commander Umbra Kato.
These two MILF leaders truly committed heinous crimes against humanity by killing innocent children along their way. These rogue MILF commanders even deployed minors as their expeditionary forces. They also perpetrated acts of terrorism by torching houses and buildings after robbing and stealing the valuables of panic-stricken residents. Our provincial correspondents gathered horrific stories of how some of the victims from these terrorized towns were butchered by these heartless war freaks wearing soldiers' uniforms who turned out to be MILF rebels.
Unlike those bastards who carried out these atrocities against our hapless people, the response of our authorities should be to act in civilized and decent manner and must do so in swift and decisive legal actions. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro announced over the radio yesterday the government would treat these MILF rebels behind these atrocities just like any other common criminals. Teodoro, a lawyer by profession, said these perpetrators would be charged in court with multiple murder, arson and robbery cases.
Whether they acted with or without sanctions by the MILF leadership, Teodoro vowed the military and police will serve the warrants of arrest against Kato and Bravo as soon as the courts issue them. So far, Teodoro disclosed 115 counts of murder, arson, and robbery in various criminal complaints were filed against Kato as head of the MILF’s 105th Base Command and his men. On the other hand, charges were still being readied against Bravo and definitely, it will include 43 counts of murder and kidnapping based on the latest count of casualties in their attacks in the four towns of Lanao del Norte on Monday.
As of press time yesterday, 39 civilians, three soldiers, and a policeman were counted among those killed. Scores of other people were wounded and forced thousands of residents of Maigo, Lapayan, Kauswagan and Kolambugan, all in Lanao del Norte, to evacuate to safer places and far from the reach of these marauding MILF rebels.
These merciless attacks by MILF militants came after the Supreme Court ordered to stop the implementation of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) that was supposed to be formally signed between the government and the MILF. The MOA-AD, which gives the Bangsamoro people wider autonomy, was set to be signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Aug. 5. But local government officials from Mindanao proposed to be included in the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) under the MOA-AD successfully secured a temporary restraining order from the SC. The High Tribunal started last week the initial oral arguments on the MOA-AD and will resume their deliberations on it this Friday.
I heard interviews by radio stations with MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu who offered his regrets but not apology. Kabalu even tried to justify the acts of his Moro brothers by saying they could not control the reactions of their commanders on the ground to the SC order against the MOA-AD.
Likewise, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal blamed the breakout of renewed hostilities as the consequence of the TRO on MOA-AD that has set back the peace process. In a phone-patch interview by the ANC television yesterday, Iqbal swore the latest hostilities did not have the blessing of the MILF leaders. Unlike Kabalu though, Iqbal said the MILF leadership “feels sorry” for the violent incidents.
But what is worrisome is Iqbal’s own admission the MILF leadership has obviously lost control over their ground commanders. “I am very optimistic that these (attacks) would not continue, as far as the MILF is concerned, if the MOA-AD is signed. But if it is not signed, if the signing remains pending, I cannot give any guarantee to that (cessation of hostilities),” Iqbal admitted.
Hence, these brazen attacks by rogue MILF leaders were nothing but use of brute force to compel the government to sign that most despicable MOA-AD document. Like spoiled brats who did not get what they wanted, they attacked these towns and unleashed their fury.
Among the three soldiers killed was Lt. Col. Angel Benitez who was in a convoy when ambushed by the rampaging MILF rebels in Barangay Libertad in Kolambugan. He sustained a gunshot wound on the head, apparently killed at very close range. The 41-year old officer was the highest-ranking officer killed in combat with the MILF in recent years. Benitez was a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Bigkis Lahi” Class 1990.
The fallen officer was fondly called “Benytes” by his PMA “mistahs.” He left behind these words of wisdom to his fellow PMAers: “The immortal academy motto is likened to a seed, it is sown and not planted. For it to sprout, it must be watered. For it to grow, there must be enough sunlight. For it to bear fruit, there must be continuous care. And nobody deserves its fruit but you who did the sacrifices.” Inspired by the heroism of their fallen mistah, they promised his death would not be in vain as they would continue their support in the search for just and lasting peace in Mindanao.
“From the Class of 1990, we have offered our extreme sacrifice. We don’t have anything more to offer except our lives but for peace and development. We are willing to do this for our deserving fellow Filipinos. Let’s unite for the cause Lt. Col. Angel Benitez died for. Let Angel be our angel,” the message was read over radio yesterday by Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato whose voice cracked in sorrow for his slain mistah.
This reminded me of a photo taken by James Nachtwey about soldiers in strife-torn Iraq that was used by Time Magazine. An American soldier wrote this quote on the wall in their camp: “When a soldier dies, he will go to St. Peter and say: ‘Just another soldier reporting sir, I have already served my time in hell’.” Benytes was promoted just two weeks ago before he was killed in action.