By now President Aquino had planned to be on top of his game. Scheduled to hand over the GPH (Government of the Philippines) Draft Comprehensive Compact, or "Com-Com" as it is called in shorthand, on the MILF's so called "Assymetrical State: Sub-state Solution." As I noted in my First Quarter entry on the GPH-MILF Peace Process, the MILF has climbed aboard the Autonomy train and has chosen to instead frame its wish list as a somewhat more palatable Federal-style relationship with the Central Government. The term "Assymetrical" refers to a comparison of the proposed GPH-MILF relationship and the relationship between other Regions and the Central Government. Since the MILF aims for a unique form of relationship, when held up against all other Regions, it is clearly "Assymetrical."
The phrase "State" simply refers to the Central Government, or GPH.The phrase "Sub-state" is referring to the envisioned autonomous region to be controlled by the MILF during a loosely defined transitional phase. In their last Round in Kuala Lampur, in February of 2011, the MILF Peace Panel handed over a revised version of its wish list, the aforementioned "Comprehensive Compact." When they parted, the GPH Peace Panel had committed itself towards handing over its own Draft Comprehensive Compact, using the MILF draft as a sounding board.
The problem though is that President Aquino has been planning to offer the GPH's Draft within the larger dynamic taking place with regard to the ARMM, or Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Beginning in the Autumn of 2010. Mr.Aquino began agitating for a delay in the ARMM Election scheduled for August 8th, 2011. The President obviously envisioned getting this delay long before the present Round in the GPH-MILF Peace Process.
The idea is to kill two birds with one stone. On one hand the parallel GPH-MNLF Peace Process hinges entirely on an amendment of Republic Act #9054 (RA #9054), the so called, "Revised Organic Act." RA #9054 itself was an amendment of an earlier act that actually created ARMM. The GPH endgame in the current phase of the Peace Process involves greatly expanded autonomy within the framework of the ARMM. To do this,the President,as I just noted,needs to amend RA #9054.At the same time it wishes to offer the MNLF a share in running the ARMM (I know,I know,it didn't fare too well the last time the Government tried it but bear with me here). Also at the same time it wants to frame the MILF's latest obssesion, the "Assymetrical State:Sub-state Solution" within the extant frame work of the ARMM, albeit in the amended ARMM with greater autonomy, which is pretty much what the MILF's wish list is at the end of the day. Of course the MILF is swearing up a storm, raising its collectively clenched fist as it vows to Allah that it will never accept a role in the ARMM...
But just why is the ARMM Election so crucial to the President's agenda? If the election were to proceed in August of 2011,as scheduled, and the amendment to follow anytime AFTER that election, there would be a coterie of elected officials screaming bloody murder. There would be a whole range of issues, the most pressing of them being the un-Constitutionality of the Central Government proscribing new duties and responsibilities for extant elective positions. In simpler terms, if the Governor of the ARMM is suddenly delegated new responsibilities, or alternatively has existing responsibilities negated by virtue of an amendment to RA #9054 it would contravene the Local Government Code of 1991, an act that itself hinges upon the 1987 Constitution. Fifty duly elected officials could clog up the courts for literally decades as they challenged Governmental excess...I mean "reforms."
Another very pressing issue would be 50 odd slots,all elected positions, that the Central Government would love to stack with MNLF and MILF members. The only way in which to do this in a productive fashion is to appoint people directly to the position(s) in question outside of an electoral process. That seems like a no-brainer but one must remember that in 1996 the Goverment pulled out its black bag of dirty tricks to get the MNLF's Chairman Nur Misuari into that very same Governor's chair. It then simply tossed the election out the window at what was supposed to be the end of his term, knowing Misuari could never hope to win re-Election EVEN WITH the "Hello Garci" type shenanigans Manila is famous for ("Hello Garci" being a catch phrase relating to former President Arroyo's manipulation of the 2004 Presidential Election in order to retain power). At the same time, in appointing these people,it only makes sense if the appointment is given for a long enough period of time. Appointing officials to serve for 18 months (or any other arbitrary number below 24 months) is simply shuffling the deck without a sense of purpose. On a more serious note the MILF and MNLF would square off against Manila maintaining that they had been sabotaged from the start, as indeed Misuari did in 2001 when faced with his failure to improve the lives of his ARMM consistuents. It is crucial that appointees, or Officers in Charge (OICs) as they would officially be known (OICs),be given sufficient time.
In any event, with the Senate finally passing the President's electoral delay it becomes a moot issue. President Aquino is preparing to sign it into law on June 30th and so he can now appoint his 50 people. As it currently stands President Aquino will apoint his ARMM OICs to a term beginning September 30th, 2011 and ending June 30th, 2013. The point to that last date is that the ARMM Election will be held on May 13th, 2011 having been synchronised with the National Mid-Term Elections.
Speaking of the MILF taking on a role in a "reformed" ARMM...On Thursday evening, June 12th, MILF/BIAF mouthpiece Eid Kabalu sent an SMS (text message) to former North Cotabato strongman, warlord Emmanuel "Manny" Pinol and asked to see him face to face, promising him it would be well worth his time. Less than 10 minutes later Pinol called Kabalu and they arranged to meet the next evening, Friday, June 13th.
Showing up at 830PM in the lobby of Davao City's Marco Polo Hotel Kabalu was suprised to see that city's Vice Mayor Rodrigo "Roddy" Duterte along with his son Paolo in attendance. Pinol had intelligently asked Duterte to show up, knowing how messy things can be with people denying having said this or that. Pinol wanted a witness. Sitting at a lobby table, enjoying soft drinks, Kabalu got right to the point. Laying all his cards on the table he told Pinol and Duterte that placing an MILF member in the ARMM Governor's chair just might be the magic bullet to end the 30 year MILF/BIAF Insurgency. Pinol asked Kabalu if he was speaking on authority from the MILF Central Committee to which Kabalu responded he was. Pinol then asked Kabalu if the MILF had any particular person in mind for the position, knowing of course that Kabalu had himself in mind. Before Kabalu could respond Vice Mayor Duterte interjected and said that it was far too early to begin discussing specific people. Instead Duterte offered, compose an actual wish list, write down everything the MILF would like to happen vis a vis the ARMM and he promised he would pass it on to Manuel "Mars" Roxas III, President Aquino's former running mate and still his confidante. Kabalu suprised them all by promptly downloading the information off of his laptop and offering Duterte a four paged printout that did just that, in great detail.
With the meeting ending in high spirits Kabalu must have felt that he was on top of the world. That wave of good feeling would only last until daybreak when a Manila tabloid reported a tiny item about the Davao City meeting. The MILF's Ghazali Jafaar, Vice Chairman of Political Affairs, who with Chairman al Haj Murad Ebrahim being just about out of the picture, serves as the de facto leader of the MILF, was obviously out of the loop on the meeting. Jafaar went beyond his usual self restraint and full force into obnoxious by calling Pinol a compulsive liar. He challenged Pinol to prove that he had met with what the tabloid was saying was an,"unnamed member of the MILF Central Committee." Jafaar said that the MILF would NEVER have sought the assistance of a lowlife of Pinol's ilk. Just hours later Kabalu spoke on the record about the meeting and indeed corroborated every single claim made by Pinol. I wonder if Jafaar was more livid at not having been consulted OR about Kabulu proudly stating that he was a "good personal friend" of Pinol's.
The Pinol Clan are Illongos from North Cotabato Province whose vehement opposition to Filipino Muslim aspirations os legendary. Back in 2008 it was Manny Pinol himself who sank the MoA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Demand) single handedly when, after then GPH Peace Panel chairman, retired AFP General Hermogenes "Gene" Esperon surretipiously faxed him a copy of it right before its under the table signing, ran to the Supreme Court screaming foul. His petition for a TRO, or Temporary Restraining Order was quickly followed by a host of traditionaly anti-Muslim politicians from the island filing their own silver bullets. Having gotten his desired Temporary Restraining Order just 16 hours before the signing on August 4th, Pinol's opposition to the document ended up sparking the 2008 War when three BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces as the military wing of the MILF is known) went off the reservation and began slaughtering non-Muslims ad naseum. In fact, the first BIAF Base Command to do so, the 105 under Kumander Ustadz Ameril Ombra Kato ("Kumander Kato") launched the opening salvo by occupying the PALMMA Complex, five North Cotabato towns considered to be the Pinol Clan's power base.
It has been no secret that for the last year the MILF/BIAF has been imploding. From Murad's stroke last summer until now, four Base Commands have ceased to exist in all but name (105,107,108, and 115), Kumander Kato has formed his own extreme military organisation, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, or BIFF, and has been attracting dissatisfied BIAF guerillas left and right. On the other hand the BIAF's manpower has been sapped by a mass of defections to the MNLF-EC15 (Executive Committee of 15, under Kidnapping Kingpin and Vice Mayor of Cotabato City, Muslimin Sema), and to a much smaller extent, the MNLF-Misuari. Moreover, the MILF Central Committee is heavily factionalised. Kabalu was deployed to Pinol because the Central Committee faction coallescing behind Kabalu (who served only as a figurehead for expediency) believed that in going to Pinol it could revel in full deniability. Who in their right mind would imagine anyone from the MILF Central Committee having a liason with any Pinol, let alone THE Pinol single handedly responsible for destroying the MoA-AD? Indeed they played it correctly up to a point as seen by Ghazali Jafaar's extra-arrogant response when finding Pinol had claimed to have met with an MILF Central Committee member. They just didn't count on Kabalu getting full of himself.
After Jafaar went off the deep end Kabalu tendered his resignation. In doing so he came clean, although he delicately avoided tarring any fellow members of the Central Committee. Resigning his concurrent positions as BIAF Spokesman for Military Affairs and BIAF Chairman of Civil-Military Relations,both General Staff positions. Though he only officialy spoke for the BIAF his role as a member of the MILF's Central Committee and lack of any parallel Spokesman for the MILF meant that Eid Kabalu was the go to man for the entire organisation. Some may remember how Kabalu had just re-gained his positions after a huge misstep made in April of 2010. In those heady days before the Presidential Election of 2010 when Kabalu once again claimed to represent the Central Committee when signing a pact with Presidential candidate Brother Eddie Villanueva. The agreement had Villanueva vow to work with the MILF/BIAF for a just solution within the framework of the 1987 Constitution. Aside for purporting to represent the entire MILF/BIAF when signing it he broke MILF/BIAF Rule Number 1 in relation to the Election: No Involvement on any Level.
In the current Kabalu Clusterfuc*, despite his resignation, Ghazali Jafaar called an Emergency Session of the MILF Central Committee and strong armed the membership into passing a harshly worded Resolution in which it expelled Kabalu from the MILF/BIAF. Claiming the ex-Spokesman had violated the MILF/BIAF Code of Conduct he was charged with "Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer" and sacked. Kabalu certainly doesn't seem at all peturbed because with his delusions of grandeur he still imagines that he is a shoe in as OIC Governor of ARMM. Whatever viability Kabalu MIGHT HAVE had rested squarely on his role as a high ranking member of the MILF/BIAF. Having lost this cachet, Kabalu has been rendered worthless to the powers that be now that the MILF has rejected Kabalu.
Meanwhile, in the GPF-MILF Peace Process, after having notified the MILF Peace Panel via the Malaysian Facilitator, Tengku Dato Abd' Gafaar Tengku Mohammad, the GPH Peace Panel merely engaged in a half day Executive Session on Monday, April 27th.Representing the GPH was:
1) Chairperson Mario Victor "Marvic" Leonen
2) Panelist Miriam Coronel Ferrer
3) Chairperson of the GPH Peace Panel Secretariat, Iona Jalijali.
Meeting with them on behalf of the MILF Peace Panel was:
1) Chairman Mohagher Iqbal
2) Panelist, Datu Michael O.Mastura
3) Panelist, Maulana "Bobby" Alonto
The GPH Panel explained in extremely broad terms just why it wouldn't be turning over its Draft of the Comprehensive Compact but vowed, once again, to do so on August 2nd, 2011. Under almost any circumstances the MILF would have went ballisitic, probably in both senses of the word. However, going against form the MILF graciously agreed to wait until August. Why? Because the Government informed the MILF Peace Panel that it wanted to center its Comprehensive Compact around the amended ARMM. While the MILF swears up and down that such an idea is anathema to them the truth of the matter is that by simply re-naming the ARMM all that faux opposition will fall by the wayside. Both sides will hold a three day Round from August 2nd through 4th. Since the major Islamic holiday of Ramadan commences this year on August 1st all three of those sessions will be half day meetings.
Showing posts with label Eid Kabalu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eid Kabalu. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
MILF,Last Quarter of 2010: Shifting from Marginal to Irrelevant
An old English adage tells us that when one has nothing intelligent to say,it is prudent not to say anything.In a recent entry I took aim at the MILF's interminable delaying tactics that have pushed the much awaited resumption of the GRP-MILF Peace Process from"After Ramadan"to "Who Knows When."I also discussed the central issue causing these delays,in the form of the individual serving as Facilitator of the Talks,Datuk Othman bin Abd' Razak of Malaysia.However I haven't really gone beyond the raison d'etre for Othman's biased positioning in favour of the MILF.In any event,Chairman of the MILF's Peace Panel Secretariat,Jun Mantawil has been so kind as to do this for me via his extremely caustic denigration of columinst Jarius Bondoc of the Mania daily,"Philippine Star."I would actually call the paper a tabloid but in the context of Philippine Journalism there isn't much disparity between the mainstream papers.
Bondoc ran afoul of the MILF by daring to support the government's lobbying for the removal of Abdurazak.In his column entitled,"Malaysian'Mediator'Marred Phl-MILF Talks,"that appeared in the December 17th issue of the paper,Bondoc makes a couple of valuable,albeit extremely minor points,the most pertinent of which was Abd' Razak's being an Intelligence Officer.Technically speaking, and Bondoc does note this,Abd' Razak is an EX-Intelligence Agent.Currently,Razak's official title is,"Special Advisor to the Prime Minister"but the position is sublimated to the Department of Research at the Prime Minister's Office.The Department of Research is an interfacial entity that is utilised as an Intelligence clearing house. Although Foreign and Domestic Intelligence entities (in Malaysia) report directly to the Prime Minister via a designated representative who is included amongst the Presidential Security Cluster,these representatives filter their output according to the various agendas of their respective agencies.Having an entity of his own to not only interface with, and develop a much better rapport with Security/Intel entities but to also posess the ability to gather in depth analysis (as does the Department of Research) is invaluable.
While there is nothing nefarious about having an Intelligence operative act as a Mediator or Facilitator in a 3rd Party capacity (think General Omar Suleiman of Egypt informally performing this very same function in the Israeli:HAMAS dynamic) there are things that become quite troublesome upon closer inspection;The MILF began life in 1975 as a coallescence of ethnic/tribal dissatisfaction,Islamo-fascist tendencies and a resolute opposition to the Libyan brokered "solution"(Tripoli 1976) within the upper echelons of the MNLF.Its founder,Hashim Salamat,was a member of the MNLF's famed "Batch 90,"who trained on the Malaysian island of Pulao Pangkor,in Sabah State,Malaysia.Though much of the hands on training was affected via ex-SAS (British Special Forces) the bulk of the theoretical facet of training,all equipment and all logistics was entirely handled by...Malaysian Intelligence.
Malaysian involvement with the MNLF was a no brainer.One must remember the threat Malaysia faced (at the time) in the form of a regionally aggressive,hyper-nationalist GRP under then-President Marcos.Basically the Philippine rationale runs along the lines of,"The Sultan of Brunei handed Sabah (and Palawan) to the Sultan of Sulu for the latter having assisted the former during a Bruneian civil war some 400 years ago.Since we,the Philippines,stole Sulu we own Sabah."Of course the geopolitical and historical realities are just a tad bit more complicated than that,yet never the less,there it is at its essence.A good decade before"Batch 90"there had been an intellectual fringe in the Philippines who were enamoured with "pan-Malayanism,"the belief that all Malayans (most Indonesians,Bruneians,most Filipinos and some Malaysians) must unite for the People as a whole to realise the full potential of the collective Malay People (again,very much over-simplified but sufficient enough for our needs in this diatribe).Ergo,if one was a Malaysian nationalist in the early-1970s he would support any cohesive element threatening Philippine regional dominance.At the same time,there were more Sama (Samal) and Tausug Tribesmen in Sabah then in their actual homeland,the Sulu archipelago.Amongst these kindred people was the Chief Minister (equivalent to a Provincial Governor in the Philippines but with far greater powers in governance) of Sabah, Tun Mustapha, a Tausug.
Fast forward to 2001,GMA (former President Gloria M.Arroyo) had just taken power via a coup against her former superior, ERAP (President Estrada) and was desperately trying to shore up support and negate her terrible political vulnerability. Almost immediately after becoming the new figurehead (she had no real power until late 2003) she was willing to do whatever it took to quiet at least 1 of the (then) 6 insurgencies afflicting the Philippines.Recognising the MILF as the perfect candidate (for a number of reasons,not the least of which was the 2000 War launched by ERAP in which the MILF's command structure and extencive infrastructure were obliterated).Naturally the MILF was still reeling from the afore mentioned conflict the year before.The MILF needed an out though,as a way to save face.It realised that coming to the table following such an out and out defeat would leave it in a hopelessly weak bargaining position and so it resisted face to face Talks.
Flailing as drowning people do,GMA practically begged Malaysia to accept its present role as Facilitator of the Peace Process.It accepted of course and in 2003 Razak became Malaysia's man in the hole.Initially there was no real problem with the arrangement because there was nothing of substance taking place.As I inferred earlier GMA did more than just delegate crucial tasks,she segued into abdication of responsibility by giving the GRP Panel free reign.Like anyone just handed a blank check problems soon arose.Without giving a play by play recording of the process,former GRP Peace Panel Chairperson (and concurrent Secretary of OPAPP as well as a retired AFP Chief of Staff) Hermogenes"Jun"Cendana Esperon Jr. was like a bull in a china shoppe).After the Supreme Court handed down a Temporary Restraining Order against the signing of the MoA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain) in early August,2008,GMA,et al screamed that they had had no idea, nothing more than the most scant consultation as to the exact nature of the proposed Agreement.Ignoring the fact that this translates into the same gross incompetence that characterised the entire career of a woman who should have never led a Girl Scout Troop,much less a nation in distress... This returns my screed to Razak,and his employer,the Government of Malaysia.
Though most would not know it,the problems with Razak date back to the tenure of former National Security Advisor Norberto Gonzalez.In 2007 Gonzalez affected a formal request to replace Razak via (then) GRP Peace Panel Chairperson (Retired AFP Chief of Staff) General Rodolfo Garcia.Then came the formal request by his successor,Rafael Seguis.Indeed it is ironic that one of the MILF's chief complaints about current GRP Peace Panel Chairperson Mario Victor"Marvic"Leonen is that he went to the media about the entire Facilitation issue given the fact that former Chairperson Seguis did exactly th same thing in late-March,2009.Why then does Malaysia refuse to comply?I have already stated the actual reason,Razak is merely doing his master's bidding.Malaysia has no love for the Philippines,to say the least.On the record Malaysia,under Prime Minister Najib Razak (not to be confused with THE"Razak"I am discussing,Datuk Othman bin 'Abd Razak,and I need to also note that the Prime Minister's actual name,including honourifics,is" Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak") is simply maintaining the policy espoused by his predecessor,former Prime Minister 'Abdullah Badawi (again, sans honourifics).Former Prime Minister Badawi publicly took the position that the original request by former Panel Chairperson Garcia constituted a breech of ASEAN's long time policy of"Non-Intervention."Of course this is ridiculous given the fact that mere Facilitation is perpetually a case of"Interference,"albeit mutually consensual.
The whole"smiley-face"exchanging of pleasantries as Malaysia and the Philippines exchanged formal correspondence regarding Malaysia's continued central role as Facilitator (that took place over the Summer of 2010) hid very strained relations between both nations on at least this subject.President Aquino would have been in hog heaven had Prime Minister Razak and company begged off as the Facilitating Nation,but of course it didn't work out that way.Malaysia takes it upon itself to pay for,and choose all accomodations for both Panels.Though no conclusive proof has been made public the general consensus amongst GRP players is that said accomodations were/are bugged by Malaysian Intelligence.Subsequently key portions of GRP strategy were then dealt out to the MILF on a piecemeal basis.One well known (in certain circles) facet involved the Mineral/Natural Resources Sharing Ratio to have been included in the failed BJE (Bangsamoro Juridicial Entity,the label given to the theoretical MILF-administered territory in Central and Western Mindanao) that was nullified by the Supreme Court intervention over MoA-AD in Autumn of 2008.The final Ratio ended with an amicable 75:25 splitting,with GRP getting the 25%.Initially Razak sought to position the MILF at 90:10 (GRP with 10%) though they opened with a gambit of 85:15 (GRP with 15%),even the MILF couldn't say 90:10 with a straight face.This is how warped Razak's position is within the dynamic.
Some within the Presidential Security Cluster have opined that for Malaysia to be dangling such unacceptable Ratios it would have to be aiming for an end game of de-stabilisation,not simply a biased settlement.Whatever the motivation,and whether Razak is biased,or not,all that matters is that GRP perceives Razak to be working against its interests.A Facilitator acts as a foil for both sides.The simplest way to illustrate it might be to ask readers to picture 2 very young brothers and a caring father.The brothers argue,recrimination merely leads to recrimination and progress is impossible.Enter the father who asks both,one at a time and in each others' presence to explain their position.Not adding anything of his own the father makes gentle suggestions involving listening and communicating to one another,only interjecting himself when 1 brother talks over the other.This is "Facilitation."If instead the father plays 1 son against the other,well you get the point.Even if the father is indeed fair,if 1 of the brothers is convinced otherwise,this "Facilitation" has no chance of ever working.
Another issue on the front burners,vis a vis Malaysia,is the GRP's contention that Razak has been meeting with MILF figures independently of the Peace Process which should be verboten simply from a common sensical point of view.The problem though is the complete absence of a review process for the Talks' TOR (Terms of Reference) as well as a complete absence of TOR for the Facilitation process on its own,something very important in its own right.TOR is a set of guidelines that spell out the process as a whole,incorporating the process framework/blueprint as well as the responsibilities of each participating entity.As the process progresses as a whole it is only common sense that existing TOR should undergo review by both GRP and the MILF.
Also rankling the MILF,Jarius Bondoc was accused of misrepresenting the indigenous status of the Maguindanowan Tribe when he said that its roots lie in Johore,i.e. Malaysia.In truth Bondoc is not too far from being absolutely on point.Both the Maguindanowan and Maranaw (Maranoan) Tribes are rooted in the Iranun Tribe (another Mindanowan Tribe) and only began to differentiate themselves AFTER the vist of Shariff Kabansuan.Kabansuan,born in the Sultunate of Johore was the son of an Arab from what is now Yemen,and a woman of the Royal House of Johore.After Kabansuan's arrival in Mindanao he intermarried with women from at least 2 Mindanowan Tribes and their progeny figure in a number of Maguindanowan and Maranaw geneaologies.So Bondoc was correct,in essence.However his point was that this fact somehow should invalidate any claim of Malaysian objectivity,and that is stretching it to say the least (trying to be kind to Bondoc though I do agree with his central thesis,Malaysia is not engaging itself out of altruism).I would have hoped instead that Bondoc had been taking aim at MILF arrogance and chauvenism as in when they portray themselves as indigenous and their Ilonggo or Cebuano (Bisaya) neighbours as"settlers."Indeed,some Bisaya are more indigenous then the most partisan"Moro."
In other MILF news,life has not been entirely boring for all members of the organisation.As Jun Mantawil screams about the difference between"Mediator"and"Facilitator" (yep,I spared you that bout of intellectual gymnastics) other MILF members have been a bit more pro active.Take the gents in the 113 Base Command...On December 07 a group of fun loving guerillas had taken their motorbanca (local type of wooden boat) and attempted a kidnapping...I mean "fundraising" off of Zamboanga Sibugay Province.Landing on Olutanga Island the would be kidnappers entered Barangay Buhangin Mahaba in 1 of the islands 3 municipalities,Subanipa.Trying to make an easy payday as the same Base Command did back on April 12, 2010 when the 6 members kidnapped Nena Toremocha from her warehouse in Barangay Malinao,in the neighbouring municipality of Mabuhay. Ms.Toremocha, wife of a former mayor of the town was taken to the mainland and held for nearly 2 weeks under sub-Kumander Abral Abdursalam.After her son Reynante dropped off the tidy Ransom on April 25,Ms.Toremocha was released,found sitting unencumbered in an abandoned nipa (bamboo and thatched dwelling) on Narciso Ramos Hiway in the town of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte Province (the center of 113 Base Command).
Back to the matter at hand,on December 07,the erstwhile kidnappers were interdicted by a CAFGU (Citizens Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit,an Army Reserve restricted to a single municipality within which all its manpower is derived) detachment.In the ensuing fire fight 3 MILF guerillas were killed and the kidnapping prevented from transpiring.
That same day,December 07,in SKP (town of S.K.Pendatun) in Maguindanao Province,yet another of the men wanted in connection for the attack on Maasim,Sarangani Province on August 18,2008,during the 2008 War,was taken into custody. Sub-Kumander (a Junior Officer) Datu Mama Abpa of the 107 Base Command was taken on a Warrant from Alabel (Sarangani Province) Regional Trial Court,Branch 38 and had a Bounty of 600,000 Pesos in effect ($5,000). Naturally MILF Spokesman Von al Haq labeled the action,"an illegal arrest"and demanded Abpa's immediate release.The day I see al Haq or a single ranking MILF member express remorse over the slaughter of non-Muslims in Maasim,or even an apology for the rank robberies that took place there,acts befitting common drug addicts (no offence to drug addicts since many are indeed superior to such miscreants and common thugs),THEN I will PERHAPS feel a modicum of sympathy for arrested MILF guerillas.
Coincidentally a 2nd guerilla wanted in that same Maasim attack,Mando Leonsili of Purok #4,Barangay Katubao,Kiamba, Sarangani Province was also targetted for arrest.Wanted on Warrant #10-21 issued by that same Regional Trial Court,Branch 38 on charges of Murder,Frustrated Murder,Arson and Robbery.As the cordon was placed around Leonsili's home by the 73IB (Infantry Battalion),the wanted man managed to escape (as is almost always the case).Soldiers did recover some low level ordnance (an RPG,3 rounds for it,4 rifle grenades and a PAL rifle with almost fully loaded clip) which for the AFP equals a"successful"operation".The problem here is that SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) involves full notification of LGU (Local Govt. Unit, aka municipal executives down to the barangay level).Not only are many LGU executives vulnerable to compromise via bribery and/or outright coercion,many have blood relations with targetted subjects (a huge risk in rural locations) or can even share membership in a targetted organisation.Leonsili,like Abpa,is with the MILF's 107 Base Command of whom 49 members have had Warrants issued over the attack in question.
Another 2 members of the 107 Base Command wanted in connection with the afore mentioned attack on Maasim on August 18, 2008 were taken into custody on November 28, 2010 when a composite force of the 73IB and CIDG (PNP's"Criminal Investigation and Detection Group") executed another couple of those Warrants I mentioned.Daud Binago and his son Rayan Binago were taken into custody along with a 3rd man who remains under investigation for possible involvement and for the time being epononymously listed as "Anderson."
I need to take time to point out,as I did in a very recent entry on KFR (Kidnap for Ransom),that Philippine authorities very often point their finger at anyone that suits them.A case in point would be that 1 of these Warrants that I am discussing has been taken out against Kumander (Senior Officer) Alo Binago of the 105 Base Command (though the attack he's charged with was executed by the 107 Base Command,Maasim is generally believed to have been conceptualised and planned by the 105 Base Command).This particular Binago is listed as the top man in that attack.The problem however is that he has been imprisoned since July 31, 2006,a fact attested to by his jailers in the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Jail (for among other things,his involvement in the well known kidnapping of a South Korean treasure hunter in 2002).
November 22, 2010 saw PNP (Philippine National Police) CO (Commanding Officer), Chief Director General Rene Bacalzo meet with Secretary of OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process), Teresita Quintos Deles in Manila as both tried to formulate a protocol with which to have the PNP seek the aid of the MILF in apprehending those former members of the Ampatuan Clan-controlled CVO and SCAA that are featured in outstanding Warrants relating to the Maguindanao Massacre.It is Bacalzo's firm belief that most of these wanted men have joined with the MILF's 105 Base Command or else with KFR/Extortion Groups like al Khobar.Of course Bacalzo is ignoring the platoon sized armed groups that are now roaming that same general area (Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat Provinces skirting Liguasan Marsh) of which ALL members are comprised of his targetted demographic.Task Force Alpha ring a bell General Bacalzo?
November 01, 2010 saw another Binago Clansman who is also a member of the MILF fall into the hands of authorities.Andaman Mukidin Binago,35,was taken into custody by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) at the Davao City boarding residence he calls home on a Warrant for the "GenSan Pork Market Bombimg."On December 12, 2004 as residents of GenSan (General Santos City, Sarangani Province) readied themselves for Xmas Binago, et al are said to have planted a very powerful IED (Improvised Explosive Device, aka "Bomb") in the city's Public Market.To ensure that only non-Muslims would be killed and maimed the bombers placed their device in the market's pork section.14 people were killed and more than 30 seriously wounded (one of those killed was a Muslim woman,ooooops!).
Binago,who claims he is a simple farmer is also said to be behind the January 30,2007 IED detonation of a Lotto outlet on GenSan's Santiago Avenue in which 6 people died and dozens were wounded.Of course MILF Spokesman Von al Haq denies that THIS Binago is even a member of the MILF.
Although Von al Haq is still handling the media the General Staff member has passed the Spokesman's torch back to Eid Kabalu who was placed on a 6 month suspension on April 12,2010 for having gotten a bit too big for his britches after taking it upon himself to sign a political covenant in the name of the MILF.As if this transgression wasn't bad enough on its own,the covenant with Presidential candidate Brother Eddie Villanueva and his BPP (Bangon Pilipinas Party) was in an election in which the MILF stressed non-involvement even more than it usually does.What did the covenant hope to guarantee?The MILF agreed (according to Kabalu's signature) to fully engage BBP in the Peace Process and would agree to BPP's vision of a Fedaralist-type solution,should Villanueva take the May 10th Election.
On October 14, 2010,exactly 6 months to the day the MILF's Central Committee unanimously passed a Resolution jointly authored by Vice Chairman for Political Affairs,Ghazali Jafaar and Chairman of the Central Committee Secretariat,Muhammad Ameen in which Kabalu's Suspension Order was lifted.Kabalu gained his position,which is formally known as,"Chairman of the Civil-Military Relations Department of the BIAF"(the BIAF,Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces,is the armed wing of the MILF so that there is no actual Spokesman for the MILF,per se) during the War of 2000.His suspension has been a difficult time for him with his brother Nasser Kabalu having been murdered during this same period.
Nasser Kabalu had just been released from the Cotabato City Jail and was walking down a residential street in Purok Sampaloc in that city's Barangay Mother Bagua when a man known only by his nickname,"Abo,"walked up behind him and shot him in the back of the head on September 26, 2010.
Ironically given the stated reason for Kabalu's suspension,on October 21, 2010,just after the MILF Central Committee hypocritically re-affirmed that stated reason in its lifting of Kabalu's Suspension Order the MILF CCCH met with its GRP counterparts at the Cotabato City headquarters of the IMT (International Monitoring Team,a multinational entity who does its best to safeguard extant GRP-MILF Ceasefires).The irony you ask?The 2 CCCH Panels (Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities) inked an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) relating to the October 25 synchronised Barangay and SK ELECTIONS.Entitled,"Guidelines for Mutual Understanding"in which both the MILF and GRP vow to take extra vigilance with regard to the Ceasefire so as to allow safe and orderly elections.Of course the MILF is careful to note that the MoU is ceasefire related so that isn't a"politically"related agreement in the strictest sense.I wonder what Eid Kabalu's perspective on THAT may be.Signing for the GRP was Chairperson of the GRP CCCH Panel,Major General Renaldo Sealana,while for the MILF,its Chairman of its CCCH Panel,Sa'id Sheikh signed on the dotted line.Witnessing the signing was Chairperson of the IMT,Major General Datuk Baharom bin Hamza of the Malaysian Army.The agreement will cover the period of October 23 to October 27, 2010.
Bondoc ran afoul of the MILF by daring to support the government's lobbying for the removal of Abdurazak.In his column entitled,"Malaysian'Mediator'Marred Phl-MILF Talks,"that appeared in the December 17th issue of the paper,Bondoc makes a couple of valuable,albeit extremely minor points,the most pertinent of which was Abd' Razak's being an Intelligence Officer.Technically speaking, and Bondoc does note this,Abd' Razak is an EX-Intelligence Agent.Currently,Razak's official title is,"Special Advisor to the Prime Minister"but the position is sublimated to the Department of Research at the Prime Minister's Office.The Department of Research is an interfacial entity that is utilised as an Intelligence clearing house. Although Foreign and Domestic Intelligence entities (in Malaysia) report directly to the Prime Minister via a designated representative who is included amongst the Presidential Security Cluster,these representatives filter their output according to the various agendas of their respective agencies.Having an entity of his own to not only interface with, and develop a much better rapport with Security/Intel entities but to also posess the ability to gather in depth analysis (as does the Department of Research) is invaluable.
While there is nothing nefarious about having an Intelligence operative act as a Mediator or Facilitator in a 3rd Party capacity (think General Omar Suleiman of Egypt informally performing this very same function in the Israeli:HAMAS dynamic) there are things that become quite troublesome upon closer inspection;The MILF began life in 1975 as a coallescence of ethnic/tribal dissatisfaction,Islamo-fascist tendencies and a resolute opposition to the Libyan brokered "solution"(Tripoli 1976) within the upper echelons of the MNLF.Its founder,Hashim Salamat,was a member of the MNLF's famed "Batch 90,"who trained on the Malaysian island of Pulao Pangkor,in Sabah State,Malaysia.Though much of the hands on training was affected via ex-SAS (British Special Forces) the bulk of the theoretical facet of training,all equipment and all logistics was entirely handled by...Malaysian Intelligence.
Malaysian involvement with the MNLF was a no brainer.One must remember the threat Malaysia faced (at the time) in the form of a regionally aggressive,hyper-nationalist GRP under then-President Marcos.Basically the Philippine rationale runs along the lines of,"The Sultan of Brunei handed Sabah (and Palawan) to the Sultan of Sulu for the latter having assisted the former during a Bruneian civil war some 400 years ago.Since we,the Philippines,stole Sulu we own Sabah."Of course the geopolitical and historical realities are just a tad bit more complicated than that,yet never the less,there it is at its essence.A good decade before"Batch 90"there had been an intellectual fringe in the Philippines who were enamoured with "pan-Malayanism,"the belief that all Malayans (most Indonesians,Bruneians,most Filipinos and some Malaysians) must unite for the People as a whole to realise the full potential of the collective Malay People (again,very much over-simplified but sufficient enough for our needs in this diatribe).Ergo,if one was a Malaysian nationalist in the early-1970s he would support any cohesive element threatening Philippine regional dominance.At the same time,there were more Sama (Samal) and Tausug Tribesmen in Sabah then in their actual homeland,the Sulu archipelago.Amongst these kindred people was the Chief Minister (equivalent to a Provincial Governor in the Philippines but with far greater powers in governance) of Sabah, Tun Mustapha, a Tausug.
Fast forward to 2001,GMA (former President Gloria M.Arroyo) had just taken power via a coup against her former superior, ERAP (President Estrada) and was desperately trying to shore up support and negate her terrible political vulnerability. Almost immediately after becoming the new figurehead (she had no real power until late 2003) she was willing to do whatever it took to quiet at least 1 of the (then) 6 insurgencies afflicting the Philippines.Recognising the MILF as the perfect candidate (for a number of reasons,not the least of which was the 2000 War launched by ERAP in which the MILF's command structure and extencive infrastructure were obliterated).Naturally the MILF was still reeling from the afore mentioned conflict the year before.The MILF needed an out though,as a way to save face.It realised that coming to the table following such an out and out defeat would leave it in a hopelessly weak bargaining position and so it resisted face to face Talks.
Flailing as drowning people do,GMA practically begged Malaysia to accept its present role as Facilitator of the Peace Process.It accepted of course and in 2003 Razak became Malaysia's man in the hole.Initially there was no real problem with the arrangement because there was nothing of substance taking place.As I inferred earlier GMA did more than just delegate crucial tasks,she segued into abdication of responsibility by giving the GRP Panel free reign.Like anyone just handed a blank check problems soon arose.Without giving a play by play recording of the process,former GRP Peace Panel Chairperson (and concurrent Secretary of OPAPP as well as a retired AFP Chief of Staff) Hermogenes"Jun"Cendana Esperon Jr. was like a bull in a china shoppe).After the Supreme Court handed down a Temporary Restraining Order against the signing of the MoA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain) in early August,2008,GMA,et al screamed that they had had no idea, nothing more than the most scant consultation as to the exact nature of the proposed Agreement.Ignoring the fact that this translates into the same gross incompetence that characterised the entire career of a woman who should have never led a Girl Scout Troop,much less a nation in distress... This returns my screed to Razak,and his employer,the Government of Malaysia.
Though most would not know it,the problems with Razak date back to the tenure of former National Security Advisor Norberto Gonzalez.In 2007 Gonzalez affected a formal request to replace Razak via (then) GRP Peace Panel Chairperson (Retired AFP Chief of Staff) General Rodolfo Garcia.Then came the formal request by his successor,Rafael Seguis.Indeed it is ironic that one of the MILF's chief complaints about current GRP Peace Panel Chairperson Mario Victor"Marvic"Leonen is that he went to the media about the entire Facilitation issue given the fact that former Chairperson Seguis did exactly th same thing in late-March,2009.Why then does Malaysia refuse to comply?I have already stated the actual reason,Razak is merely doing his master's bidding.Malaysia has no love for the Philippines,to say the least.On the record Malaysia,under Prime Minister Najib Razak (not to be confused with THE"Razak"I am discussing,Datuk Othman bin 'Abd Razak,and I need to also note that the Prime Minister's actual name,including honourifics,is" Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak") is simply maintaining the policy espoused by his predecessor,former Prime Minister 'Abdullah Badawi (again, sans honourifics).Former Prime Minister Badawi publicly took the position that the original request by former Panel Chairperson Garcia constituted a breech of ASEAN's long time policy of"Non-Intervention."Of course this is ridiculous given the fact that mere Facilitation is perpetually a case of"Interference,"albeit mutually consensual.
The whole"smiley-face"exchanging of pleasantries as Malaysia and the Philippines exchanged formal correspondence regarding Malaysia's continued central role as Facilitator (that took place over the Summer of 2010) hid very strained relations between both nations on at least this subject.President Aquino would have been in hog heaven had Prime Minister Razak and company begged off as the Facilitating Nation,but of course it didn't work out that way.Malaysia takes it upon itself to pay for,and choose all accomodations for both Panels.Though no conclusive proof has been made public the general consensus amongst GRP players is that said accomodations were/are bugged by Malaysian Intelligence.Subsequently key portions of GRP strategy were then dealt out to the MILF on a piecemeal basis.One well known (in certain circles) facet involved the Mineral/Natural Resources Sharing Ratio to have been included in the failed BJE (Bangsamoro Juridicial Entity,the label given to the theoretical MILF-administered territory in Central and Western Mindanao) that was nullified by the Supreme Court intervention over MoA-AD in Autumn of 2008.The final Ratio ended with an amicable 75:25 splitting,with GRP getting the 25%.Initially Razak sought to position the MILF at 90:10 (GRP with 10%) though they opened with a gambit of 85:15 (GRP with 15%),even the MILF couldn't say 90:10 with a straight face.This is how warped Razak's position is within the dynamic.
Some within the Presidential Security Cluster have opined that for Malaysia to be dangling such unacceptable Ratios it would have to be aiming for an end game of de-stabilisation,not simply a biased settlement.Whatever the motivation,and whether Razak is biased,or not,all that matters is that GRP perceives Razak to be working against its interests.A Facilitator acts as a foil for both sides.The simplest way to illustrate it might be to ask readers to picture 2 very young brothers and a caring father.The brothers argue,recrimination merely leads to recrimination and progress is impossible.Enter the father who asks both,one at a time and in each others' presence to explain their position.Not adding anything of his own the father makes gentle suggestions involving listening and communicating to one another,only interjecting himself when 1 brother talks over the other.This is "Facilitation."If instead the father plays 1 son against the other,well you get the point.Even if the father is indeed fair,if 1 of the brothers is convinced otherwise,this "Facilitation" has no chance of ever working.
Another issue on the front burners,vis a vis Malaysia,is the GRP's contention that Razak has been meeting with MILF figures independently of the Peace Process which should be verboten simply from a common sensical point of view.The problem though is the complete absence of a review process for the Talks' TOR (Terms of Reference) as well as a complete absence of TOR for the Facilitation process on its own,something very important in its own right.TOR is a set of guidelines that spell out the process as a whole,incorporating the process framework/blueprint as well as the responsibilities of each participating entity.As the process progresses as a whole it is only common sense that existing TOR should undergo review by both GRP and the MILF.
Also rankling the MILF,Jarius Bondoc was accused of misrepresenting the indigenous status of the Maguindanowan Tribe when he said that its roots lie in Johore,i.e. Malaysia.In truth Bondoc is not too far from being absolutely on point.Both the Maguindanowan and Maranaw (Maranoan) Tribes are rooted in the Iranun Tribe (another Mindanowan Tribe) and only began to differentiate themselves AFTER the vist of Shariff Kabansuan.Kabansuan,born in the Sultunate of Johore was the son of an Arab from what is now Yemen,and a woman of the Royal House of Johore.After Kabansuan's arrival in Mindanao he intermarried with women from at least 2 Mindanowan Tribes and their progeny figure in a number of Maguindanowan and Maranaw geneaologies.So Bondoc was correct,in essence.However his point was that this fact somehow should invalidate any claim of Malaysian objectivity,and that is stretching it to say the least (trying to be kind to Bondoc though I do agree with his central thesis,Malaysia is not engaging itself out of altruism).I would have hoped instead that Bondoc had been taking aim at MILF arrogance and chauvenism as in when they portray themselves as indigenous and their Ilonggo or Cebuano (Bisaya) neighbours as"settlers."Indeed,some Bisaya are more indigenous then the most partisan"Moro."
In other MILF news,life has not been entirely boring for all members of the organisation.As Jun Mantawil screams about the difference between"Mediator"and"Facilitator" (yep,I spared you that bout of intellectual gymnastics) other MILF members have been a bit more pro active.Take the gents in the 113 Base Command...On December 07 a group of fun loving guerillas had taken their motorbanca (local type of wooden boat) and attempted a kidnapping...I mean "fundraising" off of Zamboanga Sibugay Province.Landing on Olutanga Island the would be kidnappers entered Barangay Buhangin Mahaba in 1 of the islands 3 municipalities,Subanipa.Trying to make an easy payday as the same Base Command did back on April 12, 2010 when the 6 members kidnapped Nena Toremocha from her warehouse in Barangay Malinao,in the neighbouring municipality of Mabuhay. Ms.Toremocha, wife of a former mayor of the town was taken to the mainland and held for nearly 2 weeks under sub-Kumander Abral Abdursalam.After her son Reynante dropped off the tidy Ransom on April 25,Ms.Toremocha was released,found sitting unencumbered in an abandoned nipa (bamboo and thatched dwelling) on Narciso Ramos Hiway in the town of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte Province (the center of 113 Base Command).
Back to the matter at hand,on December 07,the erstwhile kidnappers were interdicted by a CAFGU (Citizens Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit,an Army Reserve restricted to a single municipality within which all its manpower is derived) detachment.In the ensuing fire fight 3 MILF guerillas were killed and the kidnapping prevented from transpiring.
That same day,December 07,in SKP (town of S.K.Pendatun) in Maguindanao Province,yet another of the men wanted in connection for the attack on Maasim,Sarangani Province on August 18,2008,during the 2008 War,was taken into custody. Sub-Kumander (a Junior Officer) Datu Mama Abpa of the 107 Base Command was taken on a Warrant from Alabel (Sarangani Province) Regional Trial Court,Branch 38 and had a Bounty of 600,000 Pesos in effect ($5,000). Naturally MILF Spokesman Von al Haq labeled the action,"an illegal arrest"and demanded Abpa's immediate release.The day I see al Haq or a single ranking MILF member express remorse over the slaughter of non-Muslims in Maasim,or even an apology for the rank robberies that took place there,acts befitting common drug addicts (no offence to drug addicts since many are indeed superior to such miscreants and common thugs),THEN I will PERHAPS feel a modicum of sympathy for arrested MILF guerillas.
Coincidentally a 2nd guerilla wanted in that same Maasim attack,Mando Leonsili of Purok #4,Barangay Katubao,Kiamba, Sarangani Province was also targetted for arrest.Wanted on Warrant #10-21 issued by that same Regional Trial Court,Branch 38 on charges of Murder,Frustrated Murder,Arson and Robbery.As the cordon was placed around Leonsili's home by the 73IB (Infantry Battalion),the wanted man managed to escape (as is almost always the case).Soldiers did recover some low level ordnance (an RPG,3 rounds for it,4 rifle grenades and a PAL rifle with almost fully loaded clip) which for the AFP equals a"successful"operation".The problem here is that SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) involves full notification of LGU (Local Govt. Unit, aka municipal executives down to the barangay level).Not only are many LGU executives vulnerable to compromise via bribery and/or outright coercion,many have blood relations with targetted subjects (a huge risk in rural locations) or can even share membership in a targetted organisation.Leonsili,like Abpa,is with the MILF's 107 Base Command of whom 49 members have had Warrants issued over the attack in question.
Another 2 members of the 107 Base Command wanted in connection with the afore mentioned attack on Maasim on August 18, 2008 were taken into custody on November 28, 2010 when a composite force of the 73IB and CIDG (PNP's"Criminal Investigation and Detection Group") executed another couple of those Warrants I mentioned.Daud Binago and his son Rayan Binago were taken into custody along with a 3rd man who remains under investigation for possible involvement and for the time being epononymously listed as "Anderson."
I need to take time to point out,as I did in a very recent entry on KFR (Kidnap for Ransom),that Philippine authorities very often point their finger at anyone that suits them.A case in point would be that 1 of these Warrants that I am discussing has been taken out against Kumander (Senior Officer) Alo Binago of the 105 Base Command (though the attack he's charged with was executed by the 107 Base Command,Maasim is generally believed to have been conceptualised and planned by the 105 Base Command).This particular Binago is listed as the top man in that attack.The problem however is that he has been imprisoned since July 31, 2006,a fact attested to by his jailers in the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Jail (for among other things,his involvement in the well known kidnapping of a South Korean treasure hunter in 2002).
November 22, 2010 saw PNP (Philippine National Police) CO (Commanding Officer), Chief Director General Rene Bacalzo meet with Secretary of OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process), Teresita Quintos Deles in Manila as both tried to formulate a protocol with which to have the PNP seek the aid of the MILF in apprehending those former members of the Ampatuan Clan-controlled CVO and SCAA that are featured in outstanding Warrants relating to the Maguindanao Massacre.It is Bacalzo's firm belief that most of these wanted men have joined with the MILF's 105 Base Command or else with KFR/Extortion Groups like al Khobar.Of course Bacalzo is ignoring the platoon sized armed groups that are now roaming that same general area (Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat Provinces skirting Liguasan Marsh) of which ALL members are comprised of his targetted demographic.Task Force Alpha ring a bell General Bacalzo?
November 01, 2010 saw another Binago Clansman who is also a member of the MILF fall into the hands of authorities.Andaman Mukidin Binago,35,was taken into custody by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) at the Davao City boarding residence he calls home on a Warrant for the "GenSan Pork Market Bombimg."On December 12, 2004 as residents of GenSan (General Santos City, Sarangani Province) readied themselves for Xmas Binago, et al are said to have planted a very powerful IED (Improvised Explosive Device, aka "Bomb") in the city's Public Market.To ensure that only non-Muslims would be killed and maimed the bombers placed their device in the market's pork section.14 people were killed and more than 30 seriously wounded (one of those killed was a Muslim woman,ooooops!).
Binago,who claims he is a simple farmer is also said to be behind the January 30,2007 IED detonation of a Lotto outlet on GenSan's Santiago Avenue in which 6 people died and dozens were wounded.Of course MILF Spokesman Von al Haq denies that THIS Binago is even a member of the MILF.
Although Von al Haq is still handling the media the General Staff member has passed the Spokesman's torch back to Eid Kabalu who was placed on a 6 month suspension on April 12,2010 for having gotten a bit too big for his britches after taking it upon himself to sign a political covenant in the name of the MILF.As if this transgression wasn't bad enough on its own,the covenant with Presidential candidate Brother Eddie Villanueva and his BPP (Bangon Pilipinas Party) was in an election in which the MILF stressed non-involvement even more than it usually does.What did the covenant hope to guarantee?The MILF agreed (according to Kabalu's signature) to fully engage BBP in the Peace Process and would agree to BPP's vision of a Fedaralist-type solution,should Villanueva take the May 10th Election.
On October 14, 2010,exactly 6 months to the day the MILF's Central Committee unanimously passed a Resolution jointly authored by Vice Chairman for Political Affairs,Ghazali Jafaar and Chairman of the Central Committee Secretariat,Muhammad Ameen in which Kabalu's Suspension Order was lifted.Kabalu gained his position,which is formally known as,"Chairman of the Civil-Military Relations Department of the BIAF"(the BIAF,Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces,is the armed wing of the MILF so that there is no actual Spokesman for the MILF,per se) during the War of 2000.His suspension has been a difficult time for him with his brother Nasser Kabalu having been murdered during this same period.
Nasser Kabalu had just been released from the Cotabato City Jail and was walking down a residential street in Purok Sampaloc in that city's Barangay Mother Bagua when a man known only by his nickname,"Abo,"walked up behind him and shot him in the back of the head on September 26, 2010.
Ironically given the stated reason for Kabalu's suspension,on October 21, 2010,just after the MILF Central Committee hypocritically re-affirmed that stated reason in its lifting of Kabalu's Suspension Order the MILF CCCH met with its GRP counterparts at the Cotabato City headquarters of the IMT (International Monitoring Team,a multinational entity who does its best to safeguard extant GRP-MILF Ceasefires).The irony you ask?The 2 CCCH Panels (Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities) inked an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) relating to the October 25 synchronised Barangay and SK ELECTIONS.Entitled,"Guidelines for Mutual Understanding"in which both the MILF and GRP vow to take extra vigilance with regard to the Ceasefire so as to allow safe and orderly elections.Of course the MILF is careful to note that the MoU is ceasefire related so that isn't a"politically"related agreement in the strictest sense.I wonder what Eid Kabalu's perspective on THAT may be.Signing for the GRP was Chairperson of the GRP CCCH Panel,Major General Renaldo Sealana,while for the MILF,its Chairman of its CCCH Panel,Sa'id Sheikh signed on the dotted line.Witnessing the signing was Chairperson of the IMT,Major General Datuk Baharom bin Hamza of the Malaysian Army.The agreement will cover the period of October 23 to October 27, 2010.
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