COTABATO CITY, 12 October – For once, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the governor of North Cotabato province are in complete agreement: They both say the separatist group has nothing to do with the bombing attack in Kidapawan City, and that extortionists were to blame.
Communist rebels also denied responsibility for the attack, which killed six people and injured several others in a crowded bus station in the southern city.
Police and military officials were quick to blame the attack on either the communist New Peoples Army (NPA) or the MILF, saying only these two groups have the capability and motive to do so.
"We cannot pinpoint directly who is responsible, but there are groups that have been extorting like the NPA and MILF," local army spokesman Maj. Julieto Ando had said. "Both of them are our suspects."
But North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol, a nemesis of the MILF, said the attack was the handiwork of a group trying to extort from the management of the Weena Bus Co. "Its definitely not the NPA ...theyre not involved. Not even the MILF, although some of our suspects are former members of the MILF," he said.
Piñol issued the statement after meeting with Matalam Mayor Oscar Valdevieso, whose family owns the bus company. He said Valdevieso gave him information that established extortion as the main motive for the bombing.
But in Manila, armed forces chief Gen. Benjamin Defensor said it was possible that the attack was a joint project of the MILF and NPA, citing their tactical alliance.
At a press briefing, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said that while "there are clearly terrorists in our midst," the military had yet to identify those behind the attack.
Reyes said he would not be surprised if extremist groups had linked up with the NPA to stage terror attacks.
The MILF decried what it called a futile effort by "anti-peace quarters" to stall peace negotiations between the government and the secessionist group by linking it to acts of terror.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the group did not target civilians. "The bombing was a plain act of terrorism, which the MILF does not adopt. Nothing less," he told Radio DXMS in Cotabato City.
Gregorio Rosal, spokesman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, said it was not the practice of the NPA, its armed wing, to inflict violence on civilians.
"For all we know, the bombing could be the work of the dirty tricks department of the AFP," Rosal said in a phone interview with the Inquirer in Lucena City.
He said the military wanted to sow panic in order to facilitate the easy passage of the anti-terrorism bill pending in Congress.
He also said it was the NPAs "standing policy" not to engage in activities that would endanger public safety. He cited past incidents wherein NPA offensives were directed only at active members of the police, military, militia and other armed groups under the AFPs command.
Piñol said the government was offering P500,000 for information that would lead to the bombers arrest.
He said President Gloria Arroyo provided half of the bounty.
The MILFs Kabalu said it was "more than willing to help" track down the bombers who, according to authorities, are based in Cotabato City.
"We condemn this act to the highest level," he said. "It was an un-Islamic act, and those responsible must suffer the consequence of their act of terror."
