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.
