The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is apparently cashing in on the stalled peace talks with the government by recruiting new members for a fee in Sulu, a senior military official bared recently.
Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael, Task Force Comet commander, said the MILF is lately trying to establish a mass base in the province to recruit new members but appeared to be more interested in making money out of this.
“I have been receiving reports about this and was informed that the MILF has been charging new recruits a certain fee before they are issued their MILF identification cards,” Rafael said.
MILF recruiters are reportedly urging new recruits to avail of identification cards because this would serve as their ticket for integration in the military once the peace accord is forged, Rafael said.
At least two Jolo locals confirmed to The STAR the MILF’s ongoing recruitment in the province but could not say how much new members are being charged since they did not enlist in the secessionist group.
“This (recruitment for a fee) is a farce. What integration? For now there’s no military integration program for the MILF fighters,” Rafael said.
He said the scheme could be the handiwork of some people in the secessionist movement to make money out of the peace negotiations using the AFP’s integration program of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as a come-on to fool people in the province.
When the government and MNLF signed the Tripoli peace accord, one of the programs agreed upon was for the government to enlist qualified MNLF fighters into the military. – Jaime Laude