Govt wary as ‘internal problem’ hounds MILF

Concerned over the internal issues hounding the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), government negotiators said they will seek clarification from their counterparts in the secessionist group regarding the reported resignation of one of their ranking commanders. Chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen said they will expect the clarification during the formal talks with the MILF panel on Feb. 9 and 10. “The government panel views the reported resignation of a known commander of the MILF to be (of serious) concern and looks forward to a clarification from the MILF panel during the meeting of the parties on Feb. 9 and 10," Leonen said in a statement that was read on government-run dzRB radio by presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda on Sunday. “Until that time we are careful not to take any public positions on this issue that may unduly complicate the current situation," it added. The government panel was referring to reports that MILF commander Ameril Umbra Kato, who led rebel forces in attacks in Central Mindanao in 2008, has taken with him several followers. Kato led attacks in Mindanao after the Supreme Court junked a memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain that the government and the MILF were supposed to sign in 2008. Headway For its part, the MILF admitted having an “internal problem" with Kato, who it described as the former base commander of its 105th Base, but claimed there is a good chance that he will return. The MILF maintained that there is an open line of communication between MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad and Kato even after a video showing Kato raising some issues against the MILF leadership was released to the public. “In that interview, Kato enumerated some of the issues he raised against the MILF that included the alleged revisionist policy of the current leadership headed by Murad in abandoning the Front’s original stance of independence and that he was arbitrarily booted out of command," the MILF said on its website Sunday. “We are making headway to convince him to fully return to the fold of the MILF," it added. MILF secretariat chairman Muhammad Ameen denied that Kato was stripped of his command, saying the rebel leader voluntarily resigned due to old age. He said the resignation is contained in a letter to the MILF leadership last year. “I believe this problem can still be resolved expeditiously and soon," Ameen added without elaborating. The MILF also said Kato is not founding a new organization but is only seeking a separate military, which he called the “Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters" (BIFF). The group also said the MILF Central Committee had already sent its three most senior ulama (Muslim scholars) to talk to Kato and they reported back “with some good development." - KBK, GMA News Online