DOJ mulls anti-terror raps vs MILF commanders

MANILA, Philippines - The Justice department is now studying throwing the anti-terror book at two Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders who attacked several Mindanao areas in past weeks. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said this Wednesday after police in Mindanao filed 70 criminal complaints against MILF commander Umbra Kato for occupying North Cotabato villages. "Pinag-aaralan namin yan. Right now, the police already filed about 70 counts of criminal acts against Umbra Kato. Yung kay Bravo, wala pang fina-file ang pulis. We hope by today matatapos yan (We are studying filing charges against them for violating the anti-terror law. Right now, police already filed more than 70 criminal complaints against Umbra Kato. I expect charges to be filed against Bravo soon)," Gonzalez said in an interview on dzXL radio. He did not specify, at least for now, what provisions of the anti-terror law may be used against the MILF. The Anti-Terror Law or Human Security Act of 2007 covers rebellion, insurrection, murder, kidnapping, and crimes involving destruction. It allows the examination of bank accounts and other financial sources suspected of financing terror groups. But MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said that if government wants to be fair, it must also throw the book at soldiers who also burned houses. "That is internal to the government, they can do what they want. Kung papatawan is Kato ng arson sana isali nila ang Cafgu at sundalong nanunog ng bahay para hindi double justice ang umiral sa Pilipinas (That is internal to the government, they can do what they want. But if they want to file arson charges, they should also charge soldiers and paramilitary troops who also burned houses, lest we have a double standard of justice in the Philippines)," Iqbal said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Citing information from government prosecutors he sent to Mindanao, Gonzalez said the complaints included kidnapping, murder, and arson. Umbra Kato was linked to the MILF occupation of villages in North Cotabato, while Bravo was linked to the attack on Lanao del Norte and Sarangani last Monday. Gonzalez said that in the meantime, the police and military will continue pursuit operations against the MILF. "The government is in control of the situation," he said. Also, he lauded the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for finally labeling the MILF's recent actions as acts of terrorism. "Mabuti sinasabi ng CHR yan. Kadalasan ang military ang binabanatan ng CHR at ang pulis (It's good the CHR said that. It had always been breathing down the necks of our policemen and soldiers)," he said. On the other hand, Gonzalez admitted that even with the charges filed against MILF commanders, they may not be able to go after them immediately. "Ang problema di natin ma-serve ng subpoena, di natin alam nasaan sila (Our problem will be that we cannot serve the subpoenas immediately because we have not determined their location)," he said. - GMANews.TV