Misuari, men's actions further split MNLF

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines – The action of the followers of the renegade Nur Misuari in Zamboanga City and Basilan has further split  his group and the largest faction in the Moro National Liberation Front.

The 70-year-old Datu Dima Ambil, chairman of the Sebangen Kutawato Revolutionary State of the MNLF’s “Sema Group,” on Monday assured the police and military his followers are ready to help quell any attempt to create trouble by Misuari’s followers in any part of Central Mindanao.

“We will fight them because our 1996 peace agreement with government enjoins us to help government address peace and security issues in areas covered by the agreement. It’s a big shame for us to just look at them do travesty to that agreement,” said Ambil, a scion of Maguindanao’s Matalam clan, among Central Mindanao’s Moro royalty.

Ambil said they are opposed to the hostile activities committed in Zamboanga City and Basilan by the MNLF “Misuari Group,” which is largely composed of ethnic Tausogs from mainland Sulu and a handful of Yakans from Basilan.

“We will not stop...recognizing and upholding the September 2, 1996 government-MNLF final peace agreement, whose initial dividends are now being felt by our members in North Cotabato,” Ambil said in a text message.

Ambil has jurisdiction over MNLF forces in all of North Cotabato’s 17 towns and in Kidapawan City.

Ambil belongs to the MNLF faction led by former Cotabato City Vice-Mayor Muslimin Sema, which has 20 “revolutionary states” scattered across Central Mindanao and Moro-dominated Southern island provinces.

Ambil said he and his followers were incensed by the hostile actionsof the Misuari-led MNLF faction.

“We do not like it. We will never support any violent action they are instigating just to (seek) attention,” Ambil said.