Press Release
August 19, 2008

SURRENDER OR DISOWN BRAVO AND KATO MILF LEADERS TOLD

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leaders were today challenged by Senator Chiz Escudero to either surrender or disown their members Commanders Bravo and Kato. The two have claimed responsibility for the consecutive attacks in different parts of Mindanao, the latest of which was in Lanao del Norte where 41 were killed including a high-ranking army official.

In the aftermath of the attacks in the five towns of Lanao del Norte, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu dissociated itself from the latest assault, saying it was never sanctioned by the leadership. Kabalu attributed the attacks to the ground commanders who are purportedly frustrated on the stalled peace agreement.

Escudero said if the attacks in Lanao del Norte and in North Cotabato were indeed unsanctioned by its leaders, then they should surrender or disown Commander Bravo and Pangalitan who led the siege in Lanao and Commander Umbra Kato who is responsible for the attack in North Cotabato.

"If the MILF as a whole has really no hand in these treacherous attacks, then I challenge them to surrender their ground leaders specifically Bravo and Umbra Kato, as a sign of good faith", he said.

The senator said where thousands of innocent lives were disrupted and livelihoods were demolished, and a number were killed, these MILF ground commanders should be made responsible for their acts which contribute to the further divide in Mindanao.

"If the MILF cannot surrender their rogue members, they can choose to disown them. If these ground leaders do not adhere to their organization's tenets and they prove to be obstacles to the peace path, then why don't the leaders expel them from the organization?"

With the government's latest statement to defend, at all cost every inch of Philippine territory against any group that will disrupt peace efforts in Mindanao, Escudero said the MILF should not and could not complain if this includes running after Bravo, Kato and Pangalitan.

"They should not protect these elements from being pursued by the government forces if indeed they have acted on their own in attacking several parts of Mindanao".

MILF leaders, he said, cannot go back to the peace negotiating table without first cleaning and policing its rank and ensure that the organization is moving as one towards the peace path.

"They should take a grip first of their entire organization. Unless and until unity and cooperation inside the MILF structure is ensured, peace talk should be suspended. How can the government forge unity and agreement with an organization that cannot forge the same in its own backyard?" Escudero ended.

News Latest News Feed