North Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol was quick to point the accusing finger at the MILF, whose chairman Al Haj Murad was subsequently among those charged with multiple murder in connection with the Makilala bombing.
The MILF in an Oct. 11 statement condemned the bombings in Tacurong City and Makilala. In his interview with Bulatlat, Kabalu categorically stated that the MILF has nothing to do with the bombings.
When asked who could most likely benefit from a complete collapse of the GRP-MILF peace talks, Kabalu declined to name any specific group.
“It is difficult to speculate, but there are many groups who want the status quo to remain,” the MILF spokesperson said. “They continue to exploit the situation here in Mindanao, and they are the ones who benefit from these.”
Kabalu, however, noted that among those charged by the police in connection with the Makilala bombing was Hadji Akmad Bayam, a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) whom he said now works with the office of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.
In an earlier statement, Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF peace panel, had said that the fact that Bayam was included in the charge sheet showed that police cannot possibly charge Murad with murder. “It’s amazing that Hadji Akmad Bayam was included,” Iqbal said.
“Anyone who is in his right mind won’t include Hadji Akmad Bayam (on the charge sheet),” said MILF vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar in a TV interview on Oct. 19, reiterating Iqbal’s statement.
Malacañang has yet to comment on the allegations of Kabalu, Jaafar, and Iqbal on Bayam. But news reports last month cited Ermita as saying that Bayam, whom he referred to as his assistant secretary, was involved in the “recovery” of Grace Gonzales, who was kidnapped in Zamboanga last Aug. 1.
Grace Gonzales is the daughter of Dr. Eldigario Gonzales, president of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU).
Also included in the Makilala charge sheet were Kule Mamagong alias Ustadz Kule; Daud Sarip; Biznar Salahuddin; Atti Lintungan alias Ustadz Atti; Samsudin Demaalo alias Commander Platon Blah; and Ahmad Akmad Batabol Usman alias Abdulbasit or Basit Usman; Zahide Abdul alias Zabiri Abdul or Bedz; and Usman Al Majad – all alleged MILF commanders.
The charge sheet also included Dulmatin alias Amat Usman and Omar Patek alias Abdul Sheik, alleged members of the Indonesian-based terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah. Dulmatin’s wife, who had been captured previously in Jolo, Sulu, had said the MILF is linked with the Jemaah Islamiyah – an allegation Kabalu has denied in several media interviews.
“The Jemaah Islamiyah is believed to be involved in these bombings,” Kabalu said. “That is why we lodged a formal protest against Piñol’s allegations, so that they could be investigated and the persons involved in these incidents could be pinpointed. So we are ready to cooperate with the authorities, with the government for the immediate identification of those involved in these bombings.”
Meanwhile, Arendain said, “The latest spate of bombings in Central Mindanao is consistently interrelated with other cases of unsolved bombings in Mindanao since 2001, which local and police authorities have always attributed as the work of terrorist groups.”
“However, the result of an independent fact finding mission of the Mindanao Truth Commission, which investigated the series of bombings in 2002 to 2003, concluded that a third party was behind all the bombings,” Arendain added. “Apart from the investigation of the Mindanao Truth Commission, the Magdalo soldiers (had) also accused then Intelligence Chief Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus and former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes of masterminding the series of blasts in Davao City. Even the government-backed Maniwang Commission, which was also tasked to investigate the series of bombings in Mindanao, has not dismissed the possibility of a ‘third party’ involvement in the bombings of the Sasa wharf and Davao City International Airport.”
MILF
The MILF was formed in 1978, when a group led by Dr. Salamat Hashim broke away from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by Nur Misuari.
That year, the MNLF signed an agreement with the Marcos government in Tripoli, Libya which provided for a grant of autonomy to Muslim Mindanao. The Marcos government had insisted that a plebiscite be held to settle the territories of the autonomous government. The MNLF refused to recognize the results of the plebiscite and negotiations with the GRP bogged down.
The MILF has been fighting for an Islamic state in Mindanao. Peace negotiations between the GRP and the MILF began in 1996, under the administration of then President Fidel V. Ramos.
