Emotions run high as Cayetano grills MILF chief in Senate probe

MANILA, Philippines — Resource persons in Thursday's Senate inquiry on the Mamasapano clash gave Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano answers on history and the peace process after he tagged Moro rebels as "terrorists."

Cayetano insisted he was against the agreement between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), citing the rebel group's alleged "terrorist" acts in the past and the killing of 44 elite policemen on January 25 as some of his reasons.

"I stand by my word... that we shouldn't continue with the negotiations for peace with the MILF but we should continue the quest for peace unless talikuran ng MILF ang terrorism," Cayetano said.

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The senator also brought up a United States document under the Bush administration in 2007 saying it has considered placing the MILF in its list of international terrorist organizations. The document also states that the Philippine government protested against Washington's move as it would jeopardize peace negotiations with the armed group.

"The question [would] be, why am I calling or why have I labeled the organization as terrorist? It is an international legal term." Cayetano, a lawyer by profession, said.

Cayetano, however, did not allow Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles nor MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal to address his point within the time given to him for questioning.

Deles eventually pointed out that the US also previously placed the Irish Republican Army, or IRA, and Nelson Mandela's ANC in its terror list. The groups became part of their countries' political processes.

"The US government had also decided eventually that the best way to dealing terrorism and MILF as a revolutionary movement is the peace process. Alalahanin lang ho natin 'yon," Deles explained. "And in the end that is the policy of the US government that has prevailed."

In 2014, the government signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro hoping to pave the way for the creation of a new region in Mindanao that will address the grievances of armed rebel groups, especially the MILF. It concluded 17 years of negotiations and cemented both sides' eagerness to cease fighting.

Deles said that while revolutionary movements had their moments fueling hostilities, negotiations serve to end their tendencies to armed rebellions.

"'Yon ho ang ating sinasabi na kailangan titingnan natin ito in a narrative, ang evolution ho ng [isang] revolutionary movement ay hindi napapako sa iisang sandali," she said.

'Legitimate grievances'

Iqbal, meanwhile, decried the "terrorist" label and reiterated that the MILF with "legitimate grievances" took up arms when injustices against the Moro people of Mindanao were not given closure throughout history.

He said that government forces had "massacred" tens of thousands of men, women and children in several instances the past decades.

"Hanggang ngayon po walang hustisya. So nakikita ng mga Moro, na ang laban hindi patas. They can't argue legally dahil talo sila, talo sila," Iqbal said. "So ang nangyari sa Moro, nag-organize sila to defend themselves, ang gagamitin mga armas dahil doon sila patas."

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal answers questions from the Senate panel during the third public hearing on the Mamasapano incident. Beside him is Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, his counterpart representing government. Senate PRIB/Albert Calvelo

Iqbal, who earlier denied that MILF gunmen were those seen in a viral video finishing off what appears to be policemen, said the Bangsamoro Basic Law entails decommissioning of the rebel group.

 Cayetano asked whether the MILF would give up arms even after it gets defeated in the Bangsamoro elections as a political party.

"Alam po kung magkakaroon tayo ng regular election sa 2016 hopefully, decommissioned na po ang MILF, wala na pong armas ang MILF," Iqbal explained.

Cayetano insisted that the MILF might continue to wage war against security forces if it fails to win in the polls.

Cayetano: Kung sumali kayo at natalo?

Iqbal: E 'di talo.

Cayetano: So hindi na tayo babalik sa giyera?

Iqbal: Hindi na ho kasi wala [na kaming armas].

Cayetano: Kung manalo po kayo ...

Iqbal: E 'di mas maganda.

Iqbal also said that the entire country, and not only Muslims and the Moro people, will benefit from the peace agreement. He also appealed for understanding as the narrative of the Moros "is different from all the problems in the Philippines."

"If there is peace in Mindanao, there will be progress and development," he said.

ARMM chief becomes emotional

Mujiv Hataman, governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao slated to become the Bangsamoro region once the proposed law is passed, was not able to hide his emotions with Cayetano's statements.

Hataman began to address Cayetano, clarifying he does not side with the MILF but he took time to pause and drink water as his tears welled up.

"Parang ang kasalanang ito, kasalanan na ng buong mamamayang Moro," he said.

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Cayetano, however, interrupted him and said he did not mean to offend Muslims, only that he was against armed causes such as those of the MILF.

Later on, Hataman urged government and the Senate panel to consider not only the slain 44 Special Action Force commandos but other victims of the clash.

The police anti-terror operation turned into a fire fight with MILF rebels and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, also claiming the lives of four civilians including a child.