ZAMBOANGA CITY, 7 November 2003 — Moro separatist rebels seized and executed a village chieftain on suspicion that he was aiding government forces in the southern Philippines, the military said yesterday.
Officials said Barli Jamani, village chieftain of Nala in Sibuco town, Zamboanga del Norte province, and his wife were enroute to another coastal village on Tuesday when the rebels intercepted their boat and captured both of them. A military report said the small band of rebels led by Commander Suya Arasid, alias Puti Ulo, tied Jamani’s hands on his back and shot him in the head in front of his terrified wife.
The rebels accused Jamani of aiding government troops and passing information to the military about the activities of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the report.
Jamani’s wife was later freed and sought the help of villagers. Soldiers and policemen, who went to look for Jamani, later found the body.
Villagers told the soldiers that Arasid’s group was extorting money from them and stole their farm animals. Those who refused to pay illegal taxation are threatened with harm, they said.
The MILF immediately disowned Arasid, saying he could be a bandit leader.
“We have no Arasid in our roster. Besides the MILF is strictly observing the truce agreement it signed with the government,” said MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu.He said MILF forces are under strict orders to refrain from attacking military positions to allow peaceful negotiations between rebel and government leaders.
“There is peace now because of the cease-fire accord between the MILF and the Philippine government and we are optimistic that we would achieve a long and lasting peace in the southern Philippines,” Kabalu said.
The MILF earlier said it would help the government arrest criminal groups and terrorists operating or hiding in rebel strongholds in the south.
Kabalu said MILF forces have been ordered to arrest criminals or terrorists seeking refuge in their strongholds. “We will not allow these elements to operate in our areas in Mindanao. We have signed an agreement with the Philippine government that the MILF will assist in efforts to arrest criminals or lawless elements and this include the members of the Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah,” Kabalu said.
But Kabalu cautioned the military and the police from mounting offensives against criminal elements or terrorists inside rebel strongholds without coordinating with the MILF. “Government forces should coordinate with the MILF in pursuing terrorists and criminals in our areas because we don’t want the police and military ending up battling our fighters who are supposed to help them,” he said.
