Loren asks MILF to rein in, arrest its 'loose cannons'

Senator Loren Legardacondemned yesterday the killing of innocent civilians caught in the middle of the conflict between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF) and the military.

Legarda stressed that the MILF leadership should not only disown the bloody occupation of several Lanao del Norte villagespurportedly by rogue MILF units, but should also effect their arrest so they can be brought before the bar of the justice system.

She said this is the only course of action that would prove the MILF's statement that it had not sanctioned the attacks staged by its units.

"The MILF cannot come to the negotiating table with its hands smeared by the blood of the innocents," said Legarda, who lamented the reported taking of hostages by the MILF.

The Senator, likewise, commended the bravery and heroism of the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines(AFP) who are steadfast in protecting the integrity of the Philippine territory.

"Grinding poverty in Mindanao is the root cause of discontent in the region. But every day that war rages in Mindanao, the farther we get away from peace," she said.

Legarda said that the taking of hostages is not an option for ideologues but is an activity usually resorted to by lawless elements.

She pointed out that the reported willful killing of civilians and the taking of hostages would not help the MILF cause any, thus its leadership must crack the whip on its "loose cannons."

"That's everything that's abominable in a civilized society, more so since the government and the MILF are already talking peace," said Legarda of the killings.

Legarda reminded all combatants in the region that civilians, especially women and children, should be protected at all times and not be treated as mere "collateral damages" when caught in the crossfire.

"The fighting has to stop. We need food and medicine in Mindanao, not more death and destruction in it's parched land of Mindanao," she stressed.

Legarda said the attacks were apparently an off-shoot of the settled Memorandum of Agreement(MOA) signed between the government and the MILF.

The GRP-MILF MOA, had it been signed would have empowered the BJE to exercise exclusive ownership over portions of the Philippine territory including component barangays of localities within Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga Cityand Iligan Citywhose inhabitants already expressed their sovereign will in rejecting inclusion into the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.