MANILA, 16 September — The government’s peace panel yesterday said it is looking into the military’s allegation that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had been colluding with Abu Sayyaf kidnappers in the southern island of Basilan.

Jesus Dureza, chairman of the peace panel, said the alleged connivance can be a cease-fire violation.

The government and the MILF signed a cease-fire agreement on Aug. 7 in Kuala Lumpur. Negotiators are working on the details of the accord’s implementation.

The military has accused the MILF of conniving with the Abu Sayyaf by giving the extremist gunmen sanctuary during pursuit operations.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding 18 people, including American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham. The Burnhams were abducted along with 18 others in a resort in the western province of Palawan in May 27.

More than 13 hostages escaped or were released upon payment of ransom, but the Abu Sayyaf abducted several other hostages in Basilan, some 900 kilometers south of Manila, where their members escaped from Palawan.

Known to be operating primarily in the central provinces in Mindanao island, the MILF maintain camps in Basilan, which are used as sanctuary by the Abu Sayyaf, the military said.

Dureza said panel is awaiting a formal complaint from the military so that it can begin formal investigation.

Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar had earlier told congressional probers that the Abu Sayyaf paid an MILF commander in Basilan to hide the American kidnap victims.

The MILF leadership had issued a blanket denial of all allegations of collusion with bandit groups, saying the military was engaging in propaganda.

On Friday, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu accused the military of violating the cease-fire agreement again by allegedly attacking separatist positions at Barangay Tigbanuway in Sibugay province.

“It is a clear defiance and disregard” of a cease-fire agreement,” Kabalu said in a statement.

He said the Philippine Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion operation carried out the offensive action without any provocation.

“MILF fighters in the area led by Ustadz Abdulagafor fought hard and defended their positions,” the separatist spokesman said.

He claimed that the military suffered five wounded in action and an undetermined number of fatalities. One MILF defender was reported to have sustained injury, he said.

Fighting also erupted last week in the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, with both sides accusing each other of starting the clashes.

The military has been edgy with the MILF due to the recent clashes. Late last week, suspected separatist rebels ambushed army troops, killing three soldiers including a junior officer, and wounding six others.

The MILF is the largest Muslim armed group fighting for an independent state in the south.