Gov't taking steps to have MILF tagged as terror group

MANILA, Philippines - The government is “taking steps” toward having the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), particularly the faction that recently attacked civilian communities in Central Mindanao, labeled as a terrorist organization by the international community, a Palace official said Sunday. This, even as government negotiators continue to hold backdoor talks with the MILF, the largest secessionist organization in the country. Interviewed over dzBB radio, Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez Jr hinted that the government is building a possible case to tag the MILF as a terrorist organization. "Siguradong may ginagawang hakbang ang ating gobyerno (Surely the government is taking steps towards that)," he said when asked if there is a move now to have the international community label the MILF a terrorist group. He said the Anti-Terrorism Task Force is working with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and with government lawyers to review recent acts by the MILF. "Siguro sa lalong madaling panahon pwede sila magsalita tungkol dito (We expect them to come out and issue a position on this soon)," he told interviewer Nimfa Ravelo. He added that at present the government is trying to look at the terrorist acts of only two "renegade commanders" of the group and not the MILF as an institution. "We must always remember, what we are looking at right now are these two renegade commanders of the MILF but not the entire institution of the MILF," he said. Golez also said such a move will be long and tedious, as a special court will have to study the information and evidence submitted by the government. After that, he said a special international body in the United Nations will decide if the group should indeed be considered a terrorist group. "Hindi pwedeng i-tag yan basta-basta as terrorists. Meron iyang special court para ma-tag yan as terrorists. Hinahain, nire-review kung anong ginawa. Then ang body na ito, this is in violation of the Human Security Act (You cannot just tag them as terrorists. There is a special court that will do that, it will review the evidence then determine if what the group did was in violation of the Human Security Act)," he said. "In the international scene, meron din special body sa UN na magsasabi na tama itong ginawa nila ay karumal-dumal at huwag natin hayaang tuluyang maging malaya itong taong ito (In the international scene, a special body of the UN will determine if what they did is indeed heinous)," he added. Golez however said backdoor negotiations continue because the government is still sticking to the peace process with the MILF, which has been waging a separatist war in Mindanao for nearly three decades. He added that the Palace is still not keen on accommodating calls to launch an all-out war against the MILF for its supposed "sneaky and treacherous" attacks. The MILF central command had claimed the attacks launched by its leaders, Umbra Kato and Abdullah Macapaar, were not sanctioned by the group’s leadership. The rebel units under Kato and Macapaar attacked several villages in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte, respectively, resulting to the deaths of 49 people and the displacement of thousands of others. Malacañang has offered a P5 million reward each for the capture of the two MILF leaders. - GMANews.TV