CAMP ABUBAKAR, Maguindanao, 30 June — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) yesterday rejected a request by the military to remove its forces from areas in Basilan where government troops are pursuing Abu Sayyaf kidnappers.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the government request was “unacceptable” because their forces in Basilan had never been an obstacle to the military operations against the Abu Sayyaf.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said Abu Sayyaf gunmen, who were holding three American and several Filipino hostages, were trying to draw pursuing troops into areas held by MILF fighters.
To avoid a clash between government troops and MILF fighters, who are currently observing a cease-fire agreement, it was better for MILF fighters to get out of the way, said the AFP. Kabalu said they suspect that the pullout suggestion was a tactical maneuver by the military to take control of MILF-held positions in Basilan.
There was “no sufficient reason” for MILF fighters to move out, he said, since there was no danger of a clash. Kabalu said there was no only once instance in which government and MILF forces clashed in Basilan and that was on June 5-6 in Sinangkapan, Tuburan town.
Evacuating MILF forces from the area is also unacceptable, Kabalu said, since they are to natives of the place.
“Nevertheless, if the government is really interested in getting the MILF’s cooperation, they should communicate with the MILF officially through channel for proper arrangement,” the spokesman added.
Kabalu reiterated that MILF fighters were not in any way helping the Abu Sayyaf gunmen, noting that the separatist group had even denounded the bandits’ kidnapping activities as “unIslamic.”
In Zamboanga near Basilan, however, MILF regional commander Shariff Julabbi also denied that his group was helping the Abu Sayyaf and said he had not received any reports about fighting in the area between the MILF and the military.
“That is an attempt to undermine the sincerity of the MILF,” Julabbi said.
