MILF protests arrest of political officer, son in Sarangani

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has protested the warrantless arrest of its political officer and his son in Sarangani province last December 14.

 

MILF Coordinating Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) head Said Sheik signed the complaint, said an article on the MILF website Sunday.

 

While the article did not identify the MILF member, it described him as an "MILF town official" and a political officer.

 

It also identified the arrested MILF official's son as Muhar Udda, a member of the 105th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).

 

The MILF CCCH asked its government counterpart to act immediately on this complaint and work on its request for the release of Udda without further delay.

 

The complaint, addressed to government CCCH's chairperson Brig. Gen. Ariel Bernardo, said the MILF official and Muhar Udda were arrested without an arrest warrant in Barangay Lagundi, Kiamba, Sarangani province.

 

According to the MILF, Muhar Udda was allegedly tagged as the owner of an M-14 rifle found in their house.

 

In the letter, Sheik said composite troops of the 73rd Infantry Battalion and Philippine National Police – Region 12 raided the house of the MILF town political official, "in blatant violation of the spirit of the current peace negotiation and the ceasefire between state forces and MILF fighters."

 

Sheik added Muhar Udda is loyal to MILF chairman Al Haj Murad.

 

"The letter further stressed that both the raid and the arrest were blatant violations of the existing ceasefire accord between the Government of the Philippines and MILF, pursuant to Section 3, Article 1 of the Implementing Operational Guidelines Government of the Republic of the Philippines-MILF Agreement on General Cessation of Hostilities (AGCH), and the Implementing Guidelines of the Security Aspect of the GRP-MILF Agreement on Peace of 2001, particularly paragraphs 3.2.2," the MILF said.

 

Also, it said these violations committed by the government forces seriously undermine the sincerity of the government in the peace process and negotiation with the MILF.

 

Presently, Udda is detained at the PNP Headquarters at Camp Lyra in General Santos City. — LBG, GMA News