MNLF renegades and ASG plan attacks to press Misuari’s release – police report

By Ronron
March 24, 2008

Renegade members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) elements are allegedly planning to attack government forces in Sulu province if MNLF chairman Nur Misuari will not be released from his being under house arrest.

According to a police report yesterday in Camp Crame, some 600 armed leaders and members of the MNLF and ASG met last March 18 starting 4pm until 4:45 am of the following day at Barangay Tiis in Talipao, Sulu to discuss the “refusal of the government to release MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari” from his “house arrest at New Manila, Quezon City.”

Misuari is in detention due to his rebellion case that stemmed from a raid in Jolo, Sulu in 2001.

The report bared that the meeting was presided by MNLF commander Khaid Ajibon as they observed the Bangsamoro Day. During the meeting, the rebel groups were reportedly armed with 12 units of 60 MM and 81 MM mortars, two 90 RR, and two 57 anti-tank/personnel recoilless weapons.

It said that the following MNLF leaders attended the meeting: Ustadz Khabir Malik, Tahil Sali, Ustadz Mahmor Gardan, Nidzmi Jabbar, and Hadji Idjan Adam.

While on the ASG side, the personalities in attendance were Commanders Raddulan Sahiron, Albader Parad, AngahAdja, Sihata Latip, and Sahid Susukan.

According to the report, the groups agreed that “once the government will not free the MNLF chairman, an armed offensive will be launched simultaneously by the MNLF and ASG forces against the government troops in the hinterlands of Panamao, Maimbung and Talipao areas to gain media mileage and foreign nations’ attention.”

The planned attack will reportedly be divided into two categories: the MNLF will stage harassments and assault towards government troop detachments, while the ASG will launch ambuscade at any government troop vehicles.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao commander Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga said “this could be a raw information picked up by our police counterparts.”

“But regardless if that is true or not, our troops there in Sulu and elsewhere are always prepared for possible attacks,” Allaga said in Filipino in a phone interview yesterday afternoon.

He said this report is not cause for alarm because they always receive this on a daily basis.

“That’s just normal to us,” said Allaga./DMS