Friday, September 12, 2008 MILF disowns suspect in peace monitor slay
THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander accused of killing a peace monitor in Maguindanao on August 21 was disowned by the MILF central committee.
MILF peace negotiating chief Mohagher Iqbal said Kumander Talio is no longer a member of the MILF since 2003.
The government tagged commanders Talio and Rambo as the culprits in the abduction and eventual killing of Army Sergeant Roger Emben in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.
Emben is a member of the Philippine government-MILF joint ceasefire monitoring Post in Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan.
Iqbal said Talio should not be linked with the MILF because he has been "disowned by the MILF since 2003."
"Talio could not violate the ceasefire accord because he is not a member of the MILF," Iqbal said.
It was learned that the government had filed a complaint against Talio and Rambo for violation of the ceasefire agreement.
As to Talio's co-accused, the MILF official said Kumander Rambo is innocent of the crime and that there should be no formal raps filed against him.
Iqbal urged the government-MILF ceasefire committee and the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to conduct an investigation, even as he strongly condemned the killing of Emben.
"What had happened to the sergeant was tragic because the security and safety guarantee for him under the GRP-MILF peace process was never respected by the perpetrators," Iqbal said.
Emben's remains was exhumed in Maguindanao on Monday. (BOT)
