Monday, July 23, 2007 Kabalu says MILF fighters put on defensive mode
THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front is bracing for an all-out war that may be declared by the military following the beheading of at least 10 Philippine Marines on July 10 in Basilan province, a rebel spokesman said Saturday.
"BIAF [Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces] elements are under order to remain in a defensive position and will fight back if fired upon," MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said.
Armed Forces chief of staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Friday that an all-out war is an option the government is considering after the MILF rejected demands to surrender those responsible for the mutilation.
Kabalu denied that Moro rebels beheaded the Marines although he admitted the clashes in Tipo-Tipo town were between government and MILF forces.
Security forces were reportedly in the area to pursue kidnappers of Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi but lack of coordination with the front reportedly led to the "chance encounter."
Kabalu, who said that MILF forces turned over to local officials the bodies of the slain Marines "still intact," called on the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team and other international human rights groups to investigate the incident to clear things out.
"We're not hiding anything and we're not afraid that the truth will come out," the rebel spokesman stressed.
Kabalu said "it's premature to turn over members suspected of beheading the Marines in the absence of an investigation by independent human rights groups."
He appealed to the Armed Forces to remain calm and utilize existing mechanisms to avoid another full-blown war in Southern Philippines, referring to the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities.
The government and the MILF are observing a ceasefire forged in 2003 following the so-called Buliok war in Central Mindanao.
Tens of thousands of people in Pikit, North Cotabato Pagalungan, Maguindanao at the time were forced to seek refuge in evacuation centers for fear they will be hit in the crossfire.
The military justified the operation was in pursuit of the notorious Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang but the Moro rebels claimed it was a guise and the real target was really the front.
Although the Moro rebels are prepared to fight, Kabalu called on military officials to not make the situation in Basilan now more complicated.
"We hope the military will avail the existing mechanisms [to avoid another war]," he said.
Kabalu said resorting to available mechanisms would "save the stalled peace talks from collapsing."
Peace negotiations of both parties hit a snag last year due to the ticklish ancestral domain agenda, which includes issues on territory. (BSS)
