Officials deny war advisory by MILF

MANILA, Philippines - The government is verifying reports that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has started circulating an “all out war advisory,” in the event of renewed hostilities should the peace process fail.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said she had not heard of any war advisory from the MILF.

“Sorry, but I have not heard nor read about it. We’ll need to check from our sources on the ground,” Deles said.

Government peace panel chairman Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said that except for her pronouncement to check the reports, she could not further comment on the matter.

“I cannot comment on that because it is another speculative story. I don’t have any knowledge of that document. I didn’t see the document,” Ferrer said.

Reports said the MILF central committee has issued a war advisory to other Muslim groups, including the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which had a peace agreement with the government in 1996.

The war advisory was issued on threats that the government is preparing to stop deliberations on the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The BBL is part of the peace agreement between the government and the MILF, which would allow the creation of an autonomous Bangsamoro region in Mindanao.

MNLF spokesmen Absalom Cerveza and Emmanuel Fontanilla confirmed they received the war advisory, which they claimed was sent to them by the MILF central committee.

Cerveza said that they are taking the advisory seriously and alerted all MNLF communities to prepare for any military and police action.

No such thing

MILF vice chair for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar denied the group had issued a war advisory.

“It is not true. It is not correct,” Jaafar said.

“If we have an announcement to the public, the central committee will announce it to the public, either chairman Murad or I will do it,” Jafaar said.

Jafaar stressed the MILF central committee has not come up with any such advisory.

A top-ranking official of the MNLF also receiving the advisory from the MILF.

Habid Mudjahab Hashim, chairman of the MNLF’s Islamic Command Council, said he is not privy to such an advisory being circulated by the MILF.

“We are not aware of any advisory and besides, we don’t support such movement,” Hashim said. – With Perseus Echeminada, Roel Pareño, Edith Regalado, John Unson, Jaime Laude