MILF fears new attacks by hard-line fighters

BY VICTOR REYES

THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front yesterday said the Supreme Court’s ruling declaring the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain unconstitutional might spark new attacks by its fighters, especially those who do not believe in negotiating peace with the government.

Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator, said the ruling "further gave those who are opposed to the peace process the ammunition."

Iqbal said the court should have not acted on the case because it is a "political decision."

He also said the high court’s decision is not binding on the MILF. "We will assert the MOA-AD not in the domestic level but we will assert on the international level."

"We will still hold the government accountable for bad attitude in negotiation, for not signing (the MOA-AD) because the government is the party to the negotiation and we have initialed it. We are going to insist on this, we are going to pursue the government on this," he said.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs, said the agreement could "serve as evidence" against President Arroyo "that she violated the Philippine Constitution."

He said the ruling also means the Supreme Court "does not want a peaceful solution to the Mindanao conflict."

"This reinforced their thinking that the government could not be trusted," he added.

Iqbal said the MILF leadership would not encourage fresh attacks against government troops "but the MILF is losing the moral authority to restrain them."

"We (MILF leadership) have been saying we should talk to the Philippine government because it is a reliable partner in the peace process. But after more than 10 years, we came to a point that seemed to bolster what the anti-negotiation group are saying — that the government could not be trusted," Iqbal said.

The MILF has earlier said the attacks staged by some rogue commanders in Central Mindanao in July and August were triggered by their frustration over delays in the peace process.

Iqbal said the tribunal’s ruling reinforces Malacañang’s decision not to sign the agreement, and means the problem in Mindanao will remain.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado said they are prepared for a possible escalation of fighting with the secessionists as a result of the SC ruling.

At least 4,000 Army soldiers are involved in the offensive launched August against three rogue MILF commanders who staged the attacks in Central Mindanao areas.

Senators lauded the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Sen. Manuel Roxas II, an intervenor in the petitions, said the decision prevented the dismemberment of the country and affirmed Mindanaoans’ complaint that Malacañang abused its power in pushing the ancestral domain agreement with the MILF.

Roxas called on Malacañang to fire all those involved in crafting the agreement, including the government peace negotiators.

Sen. Francis Escudero said the SC ruling "nailed the coffin of what was from the beginning an ill-penned accord."

He said those behind the agreement should immediately resign for "trying to bungle our Constitution."

Senate President Manny Villar said: "This ruling emphasizes the need for transparency and full consultation with all stakeholders in any negotiation participated in by government. Let this ruling serve as guidance for negotiations in the future, that we should be protective of our sovereignty and not to allow our territorial integrity be jeopardized."

Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan called for public vigilance as he said a motion for reconsideration could still overturn the decision.

Former Senate President Frank Drilon, another intervenor, said: "For the Arroyo administration, this obnoxious episode should serve as a bitter lesson against the recklessness of constitutional adventurism and the necessity of pursuing policy with outmost transparency and public consultation." – With Dennis Gadil