Teodoro: MILF becoming irrelevant, losing credibility

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is becoming irrelevant and has lost its credibility among the people for continuing its attacks on helpless civilians while refusing to talk peace with the government, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said here yesterday.

Teodoro also downplayed the announcements of the MILF that they are not turning over rogue commanders Ameril Umbra Kato and Abdullah Macapaar alias Commander Bravo, both responsible for the spate of bloody attacks in Central Mindanao.

He said the government would still continue its manhunt for the two commanders until they are neutralized or brought to justice. 

“As I see it, they (MILF) are trying to increase their leverage by puffing themselves up and again being more intransigent,” Teodoro told reporters after emerging from a meeting of the Cabinet security cluster presided over by President Arroyo.

Teodoro said the recent developments should serve as a “wake-up call” that their tactics “don’t work anymore with the Filipino people.”

By being stubborn and waging attacks against communities and the government, Teodoro said the MILF were mistake in thinking the government would yield to their demands.

“I think this is a counterproductive tactic of theirs. Perhaps a bit of humility, a bit of acceptance of reality… Arrogance doesn’t bring you where you should be, so a heavy dose of humility is needed,” Teodoro said.

He said authorities would stop any effort by the MILF to continue their attacks.

The government has put up a P5-million bounty for the capture of Bravo who led the attacks in several towns of Lanao del Norte that left more than 30 civilians killed and displaced thousands of villagers.

Security forces are also hunting down MILF commander Kato for attacking villages in North Cotabato last Aug. 18, shooting and hacking to death dozens of civilians. He also has a P5-million bounty on his head.

The MILF, however, rejected the government demand to turn over the recalcitrant rebel leaders, claiming they would be subjected to their own laws.

Teodoro said the offensive would continue even during the holy month of Ramadan, but that military operations against the rebels would take into account the sensibilities of Muslim communities during Ramadan.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Alexander Yano said he has ordered troops to scale down the offensive to allow Islamic communities to observe the Muslim holy month.

Yano said the military would minimize the use of artillery and air strikes on positions occupied by the rebels.

“We’re adjusting our law enforcement operations to allow Muslims to peacefully observe Ramadan,” Yano said in a statement.

However, he added: “Field commanders are not prevented from proportionately employing such firepower when extremely necessary in addressing imminent threats from overwhelming lawless MILF forces.”

Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga said the military has turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) the responsibility of going after Bravo in Lanao del Norte. –With James Mananghaya, Jaime Laude, Lino de la Cruz