MILF spokesman explains Commander Bravo’s belligerence

MANILA, Philippines — A high-ranking Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) official on Wednesday sought understanding for the belligerent stance of their field commander linked to the attacks in North Cotabato, saying the commander was a victim of atrocities by government forces in the past.

Spokesman Eid Kabalu, who is also a senior official of the separatist group, said that Abdullah Macapaar, better known as Commander Bravo, lost his parents and siblings during the war of the 70s when the government unleashed military-backed vigilantes called the Ilaga to help fight the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) of Nur Misuari.

“Si Bravo kasi merong tendency, na ikanga iba ‘yung kanyang personality, sapagkat ang kanyang mga magulang, mga kapatid lahat po namatay noong panahon ng Ilaga. Pinatay po.ng mga Ilaga. (Bravo has a different personality because his parents and siblings were killed during the rampage of the Ilagas)," he said in an interview with Radio Mindanao Nerwork.

Before Kabalu spoke, Bravo was interviewed in the same network and said that if the government declares an “all-out war" with the MILF, his forces whom he called the mujahideen or “holy warriors" will do the same.

“Kung dumating ang mga sundalo dito (sa kampo namin), handa kaming makipag-barilan hanggang maubos kami at kung hindi nila kami maubos ay uubusin namin sila. Walang ng usapan hanggat hindi ibinibigay sa amin ang Islamic justice sa Mindanao (Should government troops attack our camps, we are ready to fight even if it has to be a fight to the last. If they don’t finish us, we will finish them. There will be no negotiation unless they don’t give us Islamic justice in Mindanao," he said.

Bravo denied during the interview that his forces were involved in Monday’s deadly attacks in the towns of Kolambugan, Maigo and Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte province last Monday, resulting in the deaths of 36 people including three soldiers.

He said the attackers were mujahideens fighting for “Allah" (God).

“Wala kaming alam diyan sa atake sa Lanao del Norte. Narito kami sa kampo. (We have nothing to do with those attacks in Lanao del Norte. We were inside our camp)," he said.

While denying that his men were responsible for the attacks, Bravo justified the role the mujahideens played.

“Ang mga mujahideen ang may gawa niyan, ‘yun sundalo ng Allah. Ang sinusunod nila ay ang talagang kautusan ng Panginoon Allah. (It was the mujahideens, God’s warriors, who were responsible. They only follow the will of Almighty God)," he said.

Contrary view

Kabalu openly disputed Bravo’s disclaimer.

“Kung meron man grupo d’yan claiming to be fighters in the name of Allah, then attached ‘yan sa kanilang command. Dapat lang panagutan nila [If there’s any group there claiming to be fighters of God, they are still attached with their (Bravo’s) command Whoever did that (Lanao del Norte attacks) very clear violation of the ceasefire agreement, but then again we will give them the benefit of the doubt]," he said, adding that the matter will be the subject of investigation by the joint ceasefire panels of the government and the MILF.

“Killing of civilians have to be condemned to the highest form because civilians should be spared from fighting," he said.

“But we also need to classify civilians because there are armed civilians – such the CAFGU or CVOs…," he said, adding that the attacks in Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato and Sarangani on that day were unauthorized.

Kabalu, however, rejected pressures from the government in surrendering the erring commanders, saying the matter is internal to the MILF.

He said the attacks are now being investigated by the joint government and MILF ceasefire panels, and that appropriate punishments await whoever was responsible. He said the MILF will follow its own rules in disciplining erring members.

Double faced?

In the course of the RMN interview, Bravo hinted that his group was the mujahideen who would only follow orders of the MILF leadership that are in accordance with the Muslim holy book.

“Wala kaming kausap na lider ng MILF dahil ang may kagagawan nito ay ang mga mujahideen. Ang sinusunod namin ang ang Qur’an. Kinikilala naman ang MILF, may chain of command ang MILF at sinusunod namin ang Chairman namin at kung talagang sinusunod nila ang Qur’an, at kung ayaw nilang sumunod sa Qur’an at kami rin ay hindi susunod sa kanila kung kaya't sinusunod namin ang Panginoon naming Allah [We did not talk with any MILF leader because these attacks were the handiwork of the mujahideen. What we follow is the Qur’an. They recognize the MILF, the MILF has a chain of command, and we take orders from the Chairman (of the MILF) if they really follow th Qur’an. And if they don’t follow the Qur’an, we will also not follow them and we will follow only Almighty God’s will]," he said.

Bravo said the mujahideen became impatient because of the aborted signing of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain, which seeks to create a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity that would cover the existing Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao plus about 700 villages in other parts of Mindanao and Palawa province.

Peace negotiators of the government and MILF were scheduled to sign the MOA in Kuala Lumpur on August 5 but the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order upon the petition of local officials of North Cotabato province, who complained that they were not consulted about the inclusion of some of their territory into the proposed juridical entity.

For that, Bravo said North Cotabato Vice Gov. Emmanuel PiDol and others who derailed the MOA,including Iligan Mayor Lawrence Cruz and Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat as well as the Supreme Court for the upsurge of violence in Mindanao.

He said his group has no intention to cause violence in Mindanao, blaming the military instead for causing the evacuation of civilians, both Muslims and Christians.

Terrorist label

On the suggestion that the MILF be labeled a “terrorist" group for the attacks on civilians, Bravo said his group doesn’t care.

“Depende ‘yan sa gobyerno natin, hindi kami natatakot kung kami ay tawagin na terorista, basta ang importante sa amin ay hindi kami terorista sa Panginoon Allah. (It’s up to the government. We’re not afraid of being called terrorists. What’s important to us is that we are not terrorists to Almight God)," he said.

MILF high officials earlier denounced the attacks on civilian targets in Lanao del Norte and other parts of Mindanao last Monday and said these were not authorized by the group’s central committee.

Lt. Col Torres Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman, expressed disbelief over Bravo’s denials.

“Just this morning, there was condemnation coming from the MILF leadership of what Kato and Bravo did. So it’s not only the AFP and PNP who are saying these two commanders were responsible for the attacks," he said in a separate interview.

Kato Umbra is the MILF commander whose unit was blamed for attacks on civilian targets in North Cotabato province last week.

On Bravo’s statement that they ready to fight to the last man, Torres said: “Well it’s up to them. We will pursue them to punish them for their criminal acts." - GMANews.TV