Muslims: MILF raids satanic

COTABATO CITY – Muslims and Christians in Mindanao condemned yesterday the raids staged by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels on several villages in Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat on Christmas eve.

Islamic clerics in North Cotabato described the rebel attacks as “satanic” while others said the attacks on civilians are against the teachings of Islam, which espouse respect for religious rites and events of other sects.

Mayor Loreto Cabaya Jr. of Aleosan, North Cotabato said the rebel attack on an isolated barangay in his town on Christmas Day was meant to foment animosity between local Muslim and Christian villagers.

“But they (MILF) will not succeed because Muslims and Christians in Aleosan have united to fight terrorism and aggression that can divide people of different religions,” Cabaya said.

Hadji Acob, a Maranaw ustadz or preacher, said the guerrillas that attacked several isolated villages in Central Mindanao were trying to catch the attention of the international community to project that they are capable of harming the people.

“That strategy of projecting military strength is a taboo in Islam. These rebels will rot in hell,” he said.

Radio stations in many parts of Mindanao were flooded yesterday with text messages from Muslims condemning the atrocities of the MILF.

“Real, faithful Muslims do not do that. It isn’t justified either to say that the attacks were launched because the military attacked the rebels during the recent Ramadan,” a public school teacher, who identified himself as Badrudin, said in a text message. – John Unson