Thursday, February 14, 2008 MILF rides on ZTE controversy By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is riding on the wave of people's sentiments over the controversy on the anomalous National Broadband Network (NBN)-ZTE deal that the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is now facing.
In a report posted on www.luwaran.com, a ranking member of the MILF asked the Arroyo administration "Who is more divided as a nation, the Moros or Filipinos?" in the wake of the expose made by NBN-ZTE star witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. implicating not only former Commission on Election (Comelec) commissioner Benjamin Abalos Sr., but also First Gentleman Mike Arroyo over the scandal.
"Time and again, government officials particularly Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who is a political survivor from Martial Law to this day, accused the MILF of being highly divided that gives the government difficulty in signing a peace deal," the MILF member who was not identified said.
The secessionist group revealed there were efforts from the government to verify whether it is true that one tribal group does not recognize the present leadership of the MILF headed by Al Haj Murad Ebrahim.
"The mission was accomplished but the reply he got was that the MILF is as solid as ever, like the time when the late Chairman Salamat Hashim was still alive," the report stated.
Khaled Musa, deputy chairman of the MILF committee on information, said it is the Filipinos who are more divided than the Moros.
He cited the proliferation of political parties with elitist orientations, the various coup attempts, and changes of government through extra-constitutional processes or "constitutional means" by manipulation of those who are in control.
Musa said the Arroyo administration is standing on a shaky foundation as consequence of these scandals, political bickering, abuse of powers, unsolved violations of human rights, among others.
The MILF official opined that the days ahead for President Arroyo is "very critical" in view of reports that former President Fidel Ramos, Jose de venecia, and even Eduardo Ermita, who is related to Ramos, are reportedly firming up a decision to withdraw their support from the government.
Musa also disclosed that the "pillars of elite democracy in Philippines" have almost come to a decision to oust Arroyo from power. However, the people are ambivalent to support any change of government, saying the quarrel is among "the same bananas," he said.
