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Philippine government peace panel chief negotiator Panel Chair Marvic Leonen has suspected the attacks of the group of Umra Kato on Army detachments in Cotabato Province were timed to coincide with the opening of the 30th formal exploratory talks between the GPH and the MILF, where the passion is high that there may be an agreement this year.

“Clearly, this group of Ustadz Ameril Umra Kato are one of the few that are willing to go at lengths to deny our communities and our peoples the benefit of a just and lasting peaceful settlement to our armed conflicts,” Leonen said in his opening statement at the start of exploratory talks between the GPH and the MILF in Kuala Lumpur, Malasia yesterday.

“Clearly, they have lost the moral high ground: they have put communities and civilians in harms way for amorphous and illegitimate objectives. The BIFF as well as Ustadz Kato and his commanders are not covered by any ceasefire agreements.”

At close to midnight of August 5, 2012, small units of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFF-BIFM) engaged in unprovoked but coordinated attacks on several army detachments along the national highway from Barangay Bagan, Talayan to Barangay Kauran, Ampatuan and in Barangay Tugal, Midsayap, Cotabato Province.

Military sources said the length of the engagement was short and sporadic, consistent with the conclusion that they were mounted to simply harass army outposts.

The Army, under the 601st, 603rd and 1st mechanized brigade, all of the 6th Infantry Division, repelled these attacks with almost no casualties.

Government forces are, as of this time, engaged in clearing and punitive actions against this renegade group while being consistent with our ceasefire mechanisms and the protection of the civilians.

It was learned that coordination is happening closely amongst the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities and BIAF of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have ordered their troops to stand down and not to be involved in the ongoing operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“We are appreciative of statements that have been made by Mr. Von Al Haq, the spokesperson of the BIAF, and Mr. Ghadzali Jaafar, Vice Chair of the MILF clearly expressing their disapproval and non-involvement of the MILF in these particular activities,” Leonen said.
The group of Katu will be the subject of continued operations with all the sensitivities required by the rules of engagement to protect civilians as well as respect for the ceasefire mechanisms with the MILF, according to Leonen.

“These incidents serve no other purpose than to strengthen our resolve to find a credible, workable and just political settlement with the MILF,” he said.

Loeonen furthe said the sooner they craft their agreements, the sooner they will also be able to fully unmask those groups who do not do justice to the many sacrifices of the many to find a just solution to the Bangsamoro question.

“The sooner we craft our agreements, the sooner we will be able to do our joint advocacies so that our partnership can effectively deliver on our mutual promises.”

He continued their negotiations are proceeding with undeniable momentum. “We will certainly not pause because of unreasonable violent acts from those who cannot see that the just way to resolve our conflict is through patient and candid dialogue.”

He further said in this month of Ramadhan, where their priorities are made clearer by their individual sacrifices, may they see a clearer path ahead for an agreement, again this year.

“We have no illusions that the next stages of our negotiations will still be as complex. We are certain that the presence of technical working groups will aid us in no small measure to break down these issues.  Also, as we mentioned during the last round of talks, our principals will be confronted with issues that will require difficult decisions.  And I am sure that our principals will be willing to make them and communicate them through us so that we can both work on these concerns,” he said.

Yesterday’s start of the GPH-MILF exploratory talks saw the participation of members of the technical working group of the GPH — Mayor Ramon Piang of the Teduray, Atty. Joe Lorena, Usec. Chito Gascon, a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission who represents the youth and Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, official adviser of the power sharing GPH technical working group; and for the wealth sharing,  Sec. Senen Bacani, Asst. Sec.
Anselmo Abungan of the DENR, Dir. Ma. Lourdes Lim from NEDA, Panel member Ms. Yasmin Busran Lao.

“Now, more than ever, we are presented with the most viable conditions for concluding our agreements and having concluded them, to start yet a more challenging phase: the implementation of our commitments to each other,” Leonen concluded.

By Hader Glang