Alan Cayetano says Bangsamoro law could cause more conflict in Mindanao

By AMITA O. LEGASPI, GMA News

Published March 11, 2015 6:03pm

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday challenged President Benigno Aquino III's position that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law was the key to a sustainable peace with Moro rebels in Mindanao.

In a privilege speech, the Senate majority floor leader indicated that the BBL could lead to more conflict in the southern Philippines and warned that the new autonomous entity could even play host to terrorists.

"Hindi lamang ang MILF ang nagpaparami ng armas at nagpapalakas. Pati ang iba pang mga grupo, Kristiyano man o Muslim ay nag papalakas din. Bakit? Dahil kung mapapasa ang BBL at makuha ng MILF ang pera at poder, dalawa lang ang maaaring course of action ng MILF," Cayetano said.

"Tugisin ang ibang armadong grupo, ngunit lalabanan sila ng mga ito. O makipagsanib sa mga grupong ito at maging haven ng armadong grupo ang Bangsamoro, at possibleng terrorist haven," he said.

Cayetano also warned of the proposed Bangsamoro entity creeping to nearby areas so far excluded from the proposed new autonomous region.

"Hindi rin malayo na pagkaisahan at paghandaan na pasukin ang ilang territoryo sa labas ng ARMM na gustong makuha ng MILF at ng mga sikreto nitong kaalyadong armed groups," Cayetano said.

"Ang mga lugar na under threat ngayon ay nagpapadami din ng armas at tao. Ito ang sentimyento at kinababahala ng mga taga Mindanao na nasa labas ng ARMM," he added.

MILF coddled Marwan

Cayetano reiterated his earlier charge that the MILF had protected Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino bombmaker Basit Usman, the targets of the Mamasapano mission that resulted not only in Marwan's death but also caused the lives of 44 police commandos, 18 MILF rebels and five civilians.

The senator said the government peace panel was aware of the MILF's alleged protection of Marwan but disregarded it.

Cayetano said MILF Commander Wahid Tundok was among those who fired guns at and killed the Special Action Force comnandos going after the terrorists.

“Sino ang pumoprotekta kina Marwan at Usman, hindi ito masasagot ni Tundok dahil siya ang pumoprotekta sa kanila. Dito makikita na si Tundok mismo ang protector ni Marwan,” he said as he presented the email exchanges between Marwan and brother Rahmat Abdhir.

Read: Cayetano: Documents, emails betray terrorist Marwan’s ties to the MILF

Cayetano said presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles and chief government negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer knew this connection but they still moved for the release of Tundok when the latter was arrested in 2013.

“Nahuli siya (Tundok) noong February 2013, pinakawalan siya dahil sa effort ng peace panel. Si Tundok din ang suspek sa massacre ng brave 44, pero sinabi ni Ferrer at Deles na siya ang nagsabi na may bakbakan at tumulong sa ceasefire. Alam nila na si Tundok ay protektor ni Marwan pero bakit trinabaho nila na pakawalan,” said Cayetano.

Among those in the session hall during Cayetano’s speech were the families of fallen Special Action Force officers such as Senior Inspector Ryan Pabalinas, Sr. Insp. John Garry Erana, Insp. Rennie Tayrus, PO3 Andres Duque Jr, PO3 John Lloyd Sumbilla, PO2 Roger Cordero, PO2 Nicky Nacino Jr, PO2 Chum Agabon, PO2 Romeo Senin II, PO1 Oliebeth Viernes, and PO1 Loreto Capinding.

Incomplete information

He said the government peace panel did not give President Benigno Aquino the complete information regarding the MILF.

“Araw-araw na nagdadasal si Marwan sa mosque na 200 meters ang layo sa bahay niya. Itong lahat ay alam ng gobyerno pero bakit isinantabi ito? Meron bang humarang sa intel(ligence report) na ibigay sa Presidente?” Common sense lang, kung kayo ay wanted na criminal, may lumilipad na spy plane, 10 operasyon ang ikinasa laban sa ‘yo, bakit ka magtatago sa lugar na alam mong hindi ka safe?” he asked.

He said Marwan was living right in the middle of the house of an MILF commander and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The senator said the government peace panel also disregarded information that the MILF is recruiting and training members and acquiring more guns.

“Tuloy tuloy at lalong lumalaki ang bilang ng kanilang fighters. Ang MILF ay namimili at nagpapasok ng armas, nagre-recruit ng fighters kahit sa mga area na dati wala silang hawak, nagtatayo ng kampo sa mga dating wala silang kampo o binuhay ang mga dormant na kampo, tulad sa Zamboanga Sibugay,” he said.

Recruitment, gun manufacturing

He said that he received information that the MILF is recruiting even teenagers.

“Teenagers at mga bata ang nire-recruit. Mayroon akong ibibigay na munisipalidad na nauubos na ang teenager, ang nagre-recruit daw ay ISIS pero ang tutuo ay dinadala sila sa kampo ng MILF,” he said.

He said the training of MILF members are in Camp Darapanan and Camp Afghan.

“Tuloy tuloy ang training nyan, ilang local officials ang nakakakita nyan at hindi naman pinagbabawalan na kumuha ng litrato dahil yan ang ginagamit nila para maipakita sa tao ang ginagawa nila,” he said as he showed pictures of the two camps.

The senator also said that the MILF firearms factory was operation and to prove it, he asked the Philippine National Police to give him a special permit to purchase, carry, possess and transport a firearm and he will give them all kinds of firearms from the said factory.

“IIang mayor ang kausap ko, ang sabi ang bilihan ng baril yung marami nang bala 100, 200, hindi na tingi-tingi. Ang sabi sa akin kaya nila magbigay ng grenade launcher, yung barret dahil may factory nga sa Mindanao. Gusto kong testingin kung nagsasabi ng tutuo itong taong ito,” he said. —NB, GMA News

Tags: bangsamorobasiclaw, alancayetano, peaceprocess