Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Lanao attacks call to mind maverick Commander Bravo
OZAMIZ CITY -- The simultaneous attacks on four towns of Lanao del Norte on Monday calls to mind the maverick character of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader in the province who had been attributed to a number of controversial tactical offensives and public pronouncements.
The MILF command in Lanao del Norte is headed by Abdurahman Macapaar, more known as Commander Bravo, who enjoys a large following passed on from a relative who once wield power over the local rebel forces.
Bravo's command bastion is believed to be in the mountain complex stretching Munai, Pantao-Ragat and Matungao towns where he also has many relatives.
On March 17, 2000, Bravo led MILF forces in taking control of Kauswagan town and in occupying the seat of local government.
His forces were able to lay siege on the town for about eight hours before finally being driven out by government troops towards the evening.
The incident lit the flame of the fateful all-out war declaration of then President Joseph Estrada a day later, which spread into Central Mindanao and concluded with the overran of the MILF's Camp Abubakar where its main headquarters are located.
On April 25, 2003, Bravo again launched an offensive with a similar aim of occupation, but this time on nearby Maigo town.
Massing his troops the evening earlier, Bravo deployed them on both ends of Maigo's highway borders, crippling the flow of vehicles carrying people and commodities.
When interviewed by media, Bravo said the MILF was doing it to "cripple the economy" and make the government more responsive to the political demands of the Bangsamoro people.
Throughout that fateful day, it took some time for the MILF central leadership to issue an explanation for the Maigo attack, which was not in rhyme with Bravo's claims.
It was later found out that the attack was ripened by heated exchange of words between him and the then local chief executive over the radio.
The Maigo attack caused the postponement of the staging of Palarong Pambansa in Tubod town due to security concerns. It also soured the atmosphere of an upcoming meeting between the peace panels of government and the MILF.
Bravo is also known for his provocative public pronouncements, which are a deviation from the calculated discourse of central command personalities.
Middle of last year, he issued threats to attack government installations in Lanao if government forces push through with a planned entry into MILF positions in Al-Bharka, Basilan to arrest suspects in the massacre of Marine soldiers.
The pronouncement came as both MILF and government are in the thick of jointly investigating the Al-Bharka incident through the joint ceasefire committee and the International Monitoring Team.
Late last year, he again issued threats to launch offensive strikes against government positions as an expression of disgust over government's failure to honor previous agreements amid the snag in the Malaysian-brokered peace negotiations.
