MILF scores DND for linking group to bus bombing

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) scored the defense establishment Thursday for trying to link it to the deadly bombing of a passenger bus in North Cotabato last month that killed 10 people. MILF deputy spokesman Khaled Musa twitted the government for using a "trial-and-error" approach and using the MILF as "sacrificial lambs." "This is a case of trial and error approach and clearly to make up for police’s blunder and shame in arresting fall guys just to earn merits for promotion," Musa said in an article posted on the MILF website. "(Was it meant) to make the MILF as (a) sacrificial lamb?" he lamented. Musa said the MILF has "no motive" to kill civilians and even condemned last week's bombing as "satanic and demonic." Besides, he said the MILF does not stand to gain anything politically from the incident. On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin tagged the MILF as one of the possible suspects in the Oct. 21 bombing that killed at least 10 people. (See: Defense chief links MILF to Cotabato bus blast) Gazmin said the MILF’s Special Operations Group may be one of two groups suspected of being behind the blast. "We have discovered that this could be the handiwork of two groups. One (included) those trying to extort from the company," said Gazmin. But the MILF noted that government forces had already arrested three "fall guys" — all teenagers — in the bus bombing incident. — RSJ, GMANews.TV