Cayetano: Mamasapano clash happened because MILF shot at govt forces

The Mamasapano clash happened not because of lack of coordination but because the Moro Islamic Liberation Front fired on government forces who were there to arrest two terrorists, Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Thursday.

“There is an exception sa rules n’yo mismo na kapag high-value target, hindi kailangan ng coordination. Stop saying that it is lack of coordination that caused this massacre. It was because Marwan was there and it was because MILF and BIFF started shooting at our people,” he told government lead negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer during the Senate hearing on Mamasapano clash.

The Philippine National Police's Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) were in Mamasapano, Maguindanao to arrest Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir (alias Marwan) and Filipino Abdul Basit Usman. In the ensuing firefight with MILF and BIFF forces, 44 SAF commandos were killed. 

The MILF earlier claimed they fired on the police officers because they entered their area without prior notice. At least 18 MILF members were reportedly killed in the incident.

US concerns

Cayetano said he labelled MILF as a terrorist organization not as an insult, but because it was the international legal term.

Cayetano said that he obtained a report, updated on August 10, 2007, stating that “the Bush administration...expressed growing concern about MILF links with JI (Jemaah Islamiyah), and the JI’s use of the Mindanao Sulawesi corridor as well as doubts about the RP government’s ability to end Muslim terrorism in Mindanao.”

He said the US government considered placing the MILF on the list of terrorist organizations but that the Arroyo administration opposed the move as it would have jeopardized the peace negotiation.

The senator said he also got hold of a PNP intelligence report, made public in 2007, showing the financial links of terrorism groups.

“I stand by my word and my accusation that we shouldn’t continue the negotiations for peace with the MILF but we should continue the quest for peace unless talikuran ng MILF ang terrorism,” Cayetano said.

“I’m thankful that Chairman Mohagher Iqbal is saying that they are against terrorism,” he added.

The senator then asked Iqbal if the MILF is fighting only for its members or for all Bangsamoro people, to which the latter replied, “The Bangsamoro Basic Law is for all.”

Cayetano, however, decried the MILF's use of "terrorist acts."

“Hindi ko naman sinasabi na walang injustice sa Bangsamoro, pero mayroon din yan sa Luzon at Visayas at sa Mindanao. Pero kayo ang nagbibigay ng injustice sa mga kapwa ninyo Filipino dahil gumagamit kayo ng power of the gun. Kung hindi kayo gumamit ng dahas sa inyong struggle for self-determination, equal naman dapat ang Mindanao. Pero ang pinili n’yo kasi ay gumamit hindi lang ng dahas, hindi lang arms struggle, pero terrorist acts like bombing, arson and destruction,” he said.

“In the last 20 years ng rebellion n'yo ang nagdusa ay mga kapwa sa Mindanao. Kung kayo ang humaharang, sumusunog sa equipment and you will say that there is no peace, you are negotiating with the barrel of the gun. You are saying you are for peace pero kayo ang nagwa-war sa amin,” the senator added.

Hataman responds

At this point, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Mujiv Hataman asked the committee to let him speak.

“Alam mo Alan, matagal na tayong magkasama sa Congress at naniniwala rin po ako na…” Hataman choked, unable to finish his speech.

After several seconds, the ARMM official continued, his voice breaking: “Marami kang constituents sa Taguig pero akin lang ang application natin sa halimbawa tulad ng terorismo, hindi ko kinakampihan ang MILF dito. Tinatanong ko lang tinag ba natin ang NPA kung nagsusunog sila ng equipment? Kung nambobomba sila?”

He also lamented the hate the Muslim people are receiving because of the incident.

“Sa lahat ng social media, pag may nagsalita against the Bangsamoro, lahat ng laman ng social media parang ang kasalanan na ito ay kasalanan ng buong mamamayang Moro,” he said.

Cayetano replied that he was not describing all Muslims as terrorists since there are Christian terrorists, but that he was only referring to the MILF.

“We are here to protect the peaceful Musiims,” he said. 

Hataman said he was just worried about tagging the MILF as a terrorist group just because the US government wanted to.

The senator then apologized to Hataman.

“if you are offended, I’m sorry sir, you’re my friend. In fact, ang tingin ko mas marami pang Kristiyanong terorista. I’m just taking advantage na may articulate na MILF leader na kasama tayo, maganda ang kanyang demeanor dito dahil kung iba 'yan ay baka barilan na,” said Cayetano.

'Nag-organize kami dahil hindi patas ang laban'

Iqbal, for his part, narrated the history of the Muslim people and their struggles which made them decide to take arms.

“Nakita ng mga leaders ng Moro na wala nang future sa Philippine government. Maraming massacre at yung Ilaga, marami ang pinatay sa amin. This time wala pong hustisya. Nakita ng mga Moro na ang laban hindi patas so hindi sila makapag-argue dahil talo sila. Doon sila gumamit ng armas. Nag-organize kami ng Moro independence dahil hindi patas ang laban, patas ang laban kung armas ang gagamitin namin,” he said.

He said when they saw opportunity for peace, they took it.

“Kaya nang imbitahan ang MILF noong 1997 para mag-usap para sa kapayapaan, nagrespond ang MILF hanggang sa nagkaroon ng ceasefire agreement; hanggang sa dumating tayo sa pagkakataon ngayon kay President Aquino. Nakita namin ang sincerity ng President. Malayo na ang narating natin, nasulat na ang BBL. 'Yan ang dahilan kung bakit hindi na natin babalikan ang nakaraan. Yan ang sagot ko kay Sen. Cayetano na hindi tama ang sinasabi na ginagamit namin ang armas,” Iqbal said.

Cayetano then asked him what the MILF would do if it loses in the election for the Bangsamoro government that will be established.

“Kung may eleksyon tayo sa 2016 hopefully, nag-decommission na po ang MILF. Wala na pong armas ang MILF. [Kung natalo], e di talo. Hindi na kami babalik sa gyera. Kung manalo e di mas maganda,” the MILF official said.

He added that the passage of the BBL would address the legitimate concerns of the Bangsamoro people.

“Nakita na namin na ang BBL ay na-address ang concerns ng Bangsamoro. Wala nang lalaban nang may legitimacy. Yung mga lalaban illegitimate kasi the goverment has already addressed the legitimate grievances,” he said.

Cayetano then raised the supposed presence of MILF firearms factory in Brgy. Katol, Gen. Pendatu, Maguindanao and a "Bangsamoro Military Industries," which includes three facilities that supposedly manufacutre the MILF's firearms.

Iqbal said he was not aware of that.

No to watered-down BBL

Senator Ralph Recto then asked Iqbal if he would accept the BBL that will be passed by the Congress, to which the latter said the MILF will trust the collective wisdom of the lawmakers, but not to the extent of the BBL being watered down.

“A watered-down BBL won't address grievances of our people. Pag tatanggapin namin, we'll be irrelevant, tuloy ang problema,” Iqbal said.

Recto then noted that some P75 billion will be needed for the first year of Bangsamoro government, similar to the budget allocated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the conditional cash transfer program.

'Revolutionary organization'

Meanwhile, Presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles explained the relationship between the revolutionary organization and terrorism.

“Sen. Cayetano said that US government want to put MILF sa terrorist list. The US government also decided eventually that the best way is the peace process. 'Yun ang sinabi na ang mabisang paraan para ma-disconnect mo ang revolutionary government sa terrorism ay through peace process,” she said.

She noted that Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress and Irish Republican Army were once tagged as terrorists of the US government. Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

“Kailangang tignan itong mga organisasyon in a narrative. Ang evolution ng revolutionary organization ay hindi napapako sa isang sandali at kung ano ang ginagawa ngayon ay dapat na iangkop,” Deles said. — BM, GMA News