COTABATO CITY, Philippines, 11 May — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to joint effort with government forces in fighting kidnap-for-ransom groups and other criminal syndicates in Mindanao.

Former MILF members who have resorted to criminal acts would not be spared from the campaign, spokesman Eid Kabalu said.

Leaders of the separatist group have agreed to enter in “joint efforts” to hunt down criminals on the government wanted list and hiding in MILF-controlled areas.

The agreement was contained in a joint communiqué signed by both parties on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur as part of confidence building measures for peace negotiations.

“Under the agreement, the government is mandated to commit to the MILF this so-called order of battle containing the list of criminals suspected to be hiding in the MILF area so that the MILF could right away initiate arrest or even to crush these groups,” he said.

“We hope this will stop some groups in the government from blaming us whenever someone is kidnapped,” he added.

The military had repeatedly accused the MILF of coddling Moro kidnap gangs on the run from security forces, including the Abu Sayyaf group.

Other military and government officials, however, have also said the MILF’s top leadership may just not be aware that some local commanders were violating the Front’s rules against banditry.

Observers said the same is true in the military and police, which have been fighting a losing battle against criminal syndicates because some of their own officers and men are involved.

With the joint effort, officials both the government and MILF hope the campaign against rogues in their own ranks would be weeded out.

Apart from the anti-crime campaign, the government and the MILF had also signed an accord on the rehabilitation of Mindanao.

Entitled “Implementing Guidelines on the Humanitarian, Rehabilitation and Development aspects of the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001,” the agreement was signed by representatives of both sides in Putrajaya, Malaysia earlier this week.

Rehabilitation

Signing for the government was Norberto Gonzales, presidential adviser of special concerns, while Musib Buat, chair of the MILF technical committee, signed for his group.

Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the presidential adviser on the peace process, and Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, chair of the MILF peace panel, attested. ARMM Gov. Parouk Hussin also signed as witness.

In the implementation of projects, the agreement provides that “the MILF, in order to determine, lead and manage rehabilitation and development projects in the areas affected by the conflict, will establish a project implementing body, which will have the power and function to receive and disburse private and GRP (government) funds.”

What is required only is for the MILF to submit to the government the name, structure and personnel of its project implementing body.

In case of government funds, the implementing body is required to observe pertinent accounting rules and procedures pursuant to the provision of paragraph B-2 of the Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001.

The agreement have also authorizes the Parties to seek the assistance of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) as partners in the pursuit of rehabilitation and development.

It also mandated the government to provide the necessary finance or material technical assistance to all those returning evacuees in order for them to start a new life.

Further, the government is to reward “reparation for the properties lost or destroyed by reasons of the conflict upon reasonable proof as mutually verified and acknowledged by both parties.”

A monitoring team with representatives from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is to be activated to monitor the implementation of all rehabilitation and development projects and all other agreements.

As if to assuage hard-liners in the MILF who may be opposed to these twin agreements, Kabalu said they consider both as advantageous of the Front.

What the military says

The military, on the other hand, has welcomed both agreements.

Armed forces spokesman Lt. Col. Jose Mabanta said the rehabilitation agreement would allow soldiers who “practically do most of the work” in rebuilding affected areas in Mindanao to “concentrate on other areas” or return to barracks or home.

“We are certainly happy,” Mabanta told reporters on Thursday, when asked about the pact.

“This agreement is actually an economic package,” he added. “Its main purpose is to uplift the livelihood and the lives of the MILF rebels and their families.

The armed forces welcome this agreement.”

The military and police have also the anti-crime pact would certainly be a boost to their campaign.