Beware, Piñol urges those in MILF 'spoilers' list'

DAVAO CITY ,Philippines  – Former North Cotabato governor Emmanuel Piñol has insisted that the list the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) earlier released as the top 10 supposed “spoilers” of the peace process in Mindanao is actually a “death list” which those included should be wary about.

Piñol, who topped the list for his opposition to the MILF, said the rebel group was like giving an “indirect order to its armed cadres and its sympathizers to consider these personalities as enemies of its cause, demonized as villains in the Bangsamoro people’s struggle for self-determination and are therefore marked as fair game.”

Aside from Piñol, also in the list were Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat, former President Joseph Estrada, columnist Ramon Tulfo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad, Cotabato City Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, Dutch Paredes of Malaya, Rep. Edcel Lagman, and Sen. Francis Escudero.

Those in the list, the MILF alleged, wanted the peace process to fail for their own selfish interests.

“I would advise all of those included in the list to take extra precaution, most especially the two Catholic bishops because they are the most vulnerable to assassination attempts or bombings,” Piñol said.

“As a former leader of North Cotabato who has long figured in the campaign against kidnappings, bombings and armed attacks on civilian population perpetrated by the MILF in my province, I had my own share of these assassination attempts, including the foiled bombing of a radio station in Kidapawan City where I was hosting a radio broadcast in 2002,” he said.

Piñol said the issuance of the “spoilers’ list” is also the MILF’s way of intimidating other personalities from also opposing the rebel group’s demand for a sub-state, which he said is contrary to the Constitution.

“Now that they are up against a pragmatic President who listens to the voices of all people, the MILF is once again threatening to unleash its wrath on the hapless civilian population and against people who they see as obstacles to their dreamed sub-state,” Piñol said.

“If they could threaten people who are simply expressing dissent to the wishes of the MILF leadership now, what would they be capable of doing when they already control our lives in their dreamed Bangsamoro sub-state?” he added.

Piñol said the MILF is already showing its true intent with the “spoilers’ list.”

“I urge the people of Mindanao to be vigilant in resisting this armed group of hypocrites and bigots who want to impose their thoughts and views on the rest of the people of the island,” he said.