MILF probes beheading in Basilan

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said Thursday that it was investigating the incident in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, where 10 Marines were reportedly killed, 4 of them were beheaded and mutilated their bodies.

At the same time, the MILF is looking into a reported lapse in coordination between its forces and the Marines, which triggered a bloody gun battle.

The military had earlier blamed the extremist Abu Sayyaf gunmen, backed by MILF rebels, as behind the beheading of soldiers. It said that it was the “signature” of the group to behead people.

The Abu Sayyaf is on the US government’s terrorist watchlist and it has earned international notoriety for decapitating hostages, including Filipino Claretian priest Rhoel Gallardo and American tourist Guillermo Sobero who were beheaded in 2000 and 2001, respectively.

In 2005, a medical officer of the Basilan General Hospital disclosed to media that the terrorists have already beheaded more than 76 people, mostly civilians, from 1992 to 2001.

“We are investigating because this incident is very unfortunate. This should not have happened because the beheading of a dead person is prohibited in Islam,” Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs, said from his base on Central Mindanao.

Jaafar also denied having cooperation and link with the Abu Sayyaf, saying that the MILF as an organization has no association at all with the terrorist group. But the military insists to persistent reports of the separatist group’s involvement during the firefight.

He said he has already talked with the chief of staff of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Armed Forces on what really happened in Basilan on Tuesday, and they were, as Muslims, feel very sad that the incident happened.

Invoking the MILF’s rules of engagement, he said their forces were strictly told not to commit that kind of atrocity and to uphold at all times the rules of war in Islam. “In Islam even the cutting of trees without valid reason is not allowed.”

When asked whether the MILF will punish its some members if proven culpable in the beheading, Jaafar replied: “It all depends on the decision of the MILF Central Committee, but definitely we will give sanction to those involved.”

For Philippine Marines spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan, “We will leave the incident to the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) to ferret out the truth, especially on the extent of the MILF's involvement.”

Caculitan blamed the MILF for the attack, calling it a violation of the ceasefire between the government and the rebel group.

“Clearly this is a violation of the ceasefire. The CCCH must determine if the MILF participated in the mutilation of some of our colleagues. This is also a violation of International Humanitarian Law," he said.

Caculitan also belied the MILF's claim that the military failed to coordinate with it, saying an Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) is in place to do the coordination.

"The AHJAG coordinates the efforts of government forces tracking lawless elements)," he said. adding there was no reason for the MILF to attack because the Marines were returning from a mission to verify information on abducted Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi.

Meanwhile, two missionaries of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) in Zamboanga City have doubted the link drawn between Bossi’s abduction and a military clash with Abu Sayyaf or MILF in Basilan.

In a report posted at the website of Union of Catholic Asia News, PIME Father Luciano Benedetti said that his community does not think the clash is related to their confrere's kidnapping.

Benedetti, a kidnapped victim himself in 1998, believes Fr. Bossi has not been brought to that area. “A report linking beheadings of marines to Father Bossi's kidnapping, for us, that doesn't sound right.”

For his part, Fr. Sebastinao D’Ambra, president of the Silsilah Dialgoue Movement in Zamboanga City, said through a text message: “It is not related to Fr. Bossi…military knows that he is not in Basilan.”

The Abu Sayyaf is reportedly holding kidnapped Italian priest Fr. Giancarlo Bossi and is demanding for P250 million for his safe release.

A police intelligence agent who requested anonymity, disclosed that alleged Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) lost command rebels had turned over the victim recently to the Abu Sayyaf near Sacol Island, Zamboanga City.

According to the intelligence agent, Bossi is now in the custody of the terrorists who are keeping the Italian priest in the hinterland of Tuburan Municipality.

The intelligence officer disclosed that the terrorists were also the same group who abducted the daughter of former WMSU president Dr. Eldigario Gonzales.

The same intelligence agent explained that the reason for Bossi’s abduction by the MILF is to force the national government to continue with the peace talks.

The Abu Sayyaf in Basilan attacked government troops who were trying to rescue Bossi last Tuesday night, the intelligence agent reported.