May 21, 2000, The Philippine Star, MILF mobilizing to retake hi-way, by Sandy Araneta,

May 21, 2000, The Philippine Star, MILF mobilizing to retake hi-way, by Sandy Araneta,  

It's too early to celebrate. After gaining control of the Secretary Narciso Ramos Highway in Maguindanao on Friday, the military is bracing itself for a possible offensive of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which is reportedly mobilizing its forces to retake the strategic thoroughfare. 

This developed as President Estrada announced that he has ordered the Armed Forces to finally put an end to illegal territorial claims of the Muslim secessionist guerrillas. In his speech upon arriving from China, the President said the military would seize all areas from the control of the MILF. "We'll get all their camps," he vowed. 

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Rafael Romero, on the other hand, said they were expecting the separatist rebel group to take advantage of the temporary lull in fighting in Mindanao to build up its forces. "Heavy firefight has ceased and they would take advantage of that to muster enough troops and recapture the highway," he said. 

The Narciso Ramos Highway had been the site of fierce fighting between the military and the MILF since late April after the government set out to clear the road of guerrillas who had been extorting money from motorists. More than a hundred soldiers were killed and about 500 wounded in the fighting for the highway, the military said. The number of MILF casualties was reportedly three times higher. 

The MILF began to withdraw from the highway on May 15, allegedly as a peace gesture to the government but scattered clashes have continued. Romero believes, however, that even if the rebel group would embark on a troop build-up, it could no longer wage another war for the highway since its armaments and ammunition have run out. "They still have many men, but they lack weapons to carry out their grand plan, he pointed out. 

'Enough'

For his part, the President expressed hopes that peace negotiations between his government and the MILF would resume. But the Chief Executive said he would no longer tolerate treachery on the part of the rebels who have been building up forces while talking peace. 

"While the peace process was going on, they were building up and fortifying their forts. They built a 10-kilometer tunnel at the Narciso Ramos Highway and held it for the past five years and exacted toll," he said. "We cannot tolerate this any longer. Enough is enough," Mr. Estrada said. 

The President said he has ordered the military to seize all areas being controlled by the MILF, except Camp Abubakar in Maguindanao which is the rebels' main enclave. "There will be a campaign by the Armed Forces and we will be firm. We will never compromise the territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines," he said. 

Retired Gen. Eduardo Batenga, who chairs the government's peace panel, said he would recommend that both sides focus on "more substantive issues" and set final parameters for the talks. He said the panel wants to meet the rebels on May 30 to reopen the talks, but the rebels had not yet replied. 

"We should agree once and for all that the negotiations should be premised on the sovereignty and territorial integrity and that it focus on the framework of meaningful autonomy," he explained. Batenga has been calling his MILF counterpart, Alim Abdulazis Mimbantas, to set the time and place for the resumption of the peace talks. "It was the MILF that unilaterally suspended the talks. Our communication lines are open and we can talk about it," he said. 

Standing order 

Meanwhile, MILF fighters have been ordered to launch counter offensives should the military breach into Camp Abubakar. MILF vice chairman Al Haj Murad said they have received reports that soldiers have started intruding in some barangays inside the MILF's main enclave. These soldiers, he said, have set up detachments and were shelling rebel positions intermittently. 

"We have a standing order to our fighters to attack if the military continues to breach our camp," Murad said. MILF spokesman Ed Kabalu refused to comment on the reported troop buildup of their group. He said if they were planning to retake the Narciso Ramos Highway, they would do it without warning the military. He accused Romero of "just making noise" in coming up with "unfounded rumors." "He does not have any basis for those things," he said. 

Romero nonetheless said they were prepared to face any MILF effort to retake the highway. "We have deployed enough men along that road," he said, referring to some 3,000 soldiers of the 302nd Infantry Brigade and the 1st Marine Brigade who have taken positions in Langkung and Matanog towns, considered strategic points along the highway. 

Referee needed 

In other developments, an organization of Christians and Muslims asked the government yesterday to allow a third party to broker peace with the MILF. The Bishops Ulama Forum, in a statement, said a "neutral but concerned third party" such as leaders from Islamic countries and peace advocates should be invited in the negotiations. 

"We suggest that a neutral third party be invited to sit with the negotiating parties," the group said. "We welcome gestures of concern for peace, justice and freedom from the international community, including leaders of Islamic countries, fellow religious leaders and peace advocates." The group added that it is "inviting everyone to heed the United Nations' call for observing the year 2000 as the year for a culture of peace." "Total peace, not total war, is the answer to Mindanao's problems," the group stressed. -- Sandy Araneta with Marichu Villanueva, John Unson