‘We were protecting the bus passengers’

Keeping them out of harm’s way?

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) denied yesterday reports that they hijacked a bus, robbed its passengers and held them as hostages early Monday on a highway in North Cotabato.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the rebels were merely protecting the passengers from being caught in the crossfire as the rebels fought pursuing government troops.

"Our troops (held) the buses for fear they might be hit in the crossfire in the ongoing battle of our combatants with the soldiers in the nearby barangays of Dalangawin and Takipan," Kabalu said.

Some 200 rebels, reportedly led by Commander Pakil Ayunan, led the guerrillas in robbing the passengers along the Cotabato-Davao Highway in Pikit town.

Officials at the scene said the gunmen introduced themselves as MILF rebels. One passenger — a soldier who was in civilian clothes but had a military ID and a pistol in his luggage — was executed. He was later identified as M/Sgt. Juanito Digno.

Two of the female passengers even complained they were ordered to take off their clothes but were spared after the rebels sensed military reinforcements closing in.

"The witnesses and even the passengers themselves (knew) that they were not taken hostage but to keep them away from harm with the ongoing battle," Kabalu said.

Kabalu, however, confirmed the rebels killed Digno and the still unidentified militiaman.

"Our killings with our enemies (military) showed that we have no intention to include innocent civilians," he said.

Muhaquer Iqbal, spokesman for the MILF central committee, also denied reports that the rebels robbed the passengers.

"Not one of them (passengers) had been robbed of their belongings," Iqbal told radio station dxMS.

He insisted the rebels were not highway robbers but merely acted to protect the passengers from being caught in a crossfire.

Kabalu clarified they are still adhering to their position not to hurt civilians as President Arroyo asked them to stop committing any acts of terrorism.

The military accused the MILF of recruiting new fighters, massing their forces and training their men to stage bombings and sabotage even while calling on the government to resume peace talks.

"They’re still trying to (act) like a rebel group but in actuality, they are engaging in terroristic activities," Armed Forces Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya said.

The MILF earlier vowed to engage in retaliatory attacks against the government while the military accused the rebels of being behind the spate of bombing attacks of civilian targets, including the March 4 blast at the Davao International Airport which left 21 people dead and at least 160 wounded.

Although the MILF denied carrying out the Davao bombing, criminal charges have been filed against the top rebel leaders and 50 other guerrillas.

Kabalu said they are not bothered by the charges "because they are mere harassment purportedly to discredit our organization and to make the public believe that we are criminals."

The MILF also said they will negotiate peace with the government only if the military pulls out from their former enclaves.

As this developed, Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong expressed fears that the charges filed against the MILF may further derail efforts to resume the peace talks with the rebels.

He said the development adversely affected efforts to negotiate with the MILF leaders who have gone into hiding following the filing of criminal charges against them last week. — With John Unson