Philippines: USA joining in anti-Moro attacks?

But that would be a bold betrayal of the Visiting Forces Agreement which Filipino leaders had belabored to dupe their own people and Constitution in order for the˜Green Beret' to gain foothold in the country beyond the legal reach of Filipino nationalists and anti-American elements.

It has been more than a week but the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has not come out in the open to claim credit for the encounter with Moro Freedom Fighters (MFF) or Mujahideen at Bita’nag, Panamao under the command of Ustaz Habier Malik of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). In that encounter, five MFF were martyred; two of the bodies were reportedly taken to the Brigade Headquarters in Jolo. Five firearms, including a 90mm Recoilless Rifle, were also taken by the government forces. (MFF or Mujahideen is the conglomeration of MNLF, non-aligned forces and Harakatul Islamiyah, aka Abu Sayyaf to the AFP, ).

Apparently, there are three reasons for the AFP silence. One; there is already a peace accord known as the 'Final Phase Agreement' (FPA) signed with the MNLF in 1996, although basically, none of the important provisions therein was implemented to the letter and spirit of the Agreement. Second; not many AFP regulars were involved in the fighting, only para-military units or militia belonging to the local Civilian Home Defense Forces (CHDF) of the Mayors and Governor of Sulu, now known as CEF (Civil Emergency Forces). Third; the AFP risk courting the ire of international public opinion after they had breached the peace on the 'Feast of Eid-il Fitr' , that prevented thousands of Bangsamoro Muslims from celebrating the blessed occasion of the sacred Fasting month of Ramadhan. The AFP attacked the Mujahideen just before the Eid Prayer, with all the fury of bombs and artillery that drove Muslims into underground shelters instead of going to Mosques for the special congregational prayers.

But the AFP was smart enough to tag the enemy as Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) which they have groomed through various means to serve as Moro bogey. With ASG as the alleged “target†, the AFP is licensed from the ‘International Policeman’ to kill Moro combatants or civilians, because all Moros have already been registered as “terrorists†, except those carrying MNLF or MILF identification, of which not many of the latter do have IDs.

MFF retaliation and USA joining the fray?

After the MFF setback at Bita'nag, they intensified their hunt for AFP targets, setting up ambushes in all areas the latter has rerouted without the CEF participation. The MFF has successfully limited the mass movement of AFP troops by blowing up all bridges of the main highways. In three of the ambushes, the AFP suffered heavy casualties that include a number of their American advisers or training officers, with a dozen army vehicles, including Armored Personnel Carriers (APC), destroyed. Now, the AFP is using the CEF as decoys to limit damages in MFF ambushes.

The latest to join the fray is the MFF in Patikul, thus virtually paralyzing the movement of AFP troops from one point to another. Impartial observers are watching the deployment of thousands of newly arrived American troops that are being deployed temporarily in greater Manila area and some parts of Northern Philippines to provide humanitarian assistance to typhoon and flood victims. After the flood menace, US soldiers may be fielded to Mindanao to avenge the death of their comrades, or to achieve their hidden agenda in Sulu. They are using this 'terrorist' war to 'legalize' their presence in order to have full control of the vast deposit of ‘black gold’ and other valuable natural resources in the Sulu Sea and Liguasan Marsh. The other option, which is least likely but not totally impossible, is for the 'Green Beret' to assist the MFF regain freedom from the GRP to get the nod of the Moro people for them to exploit all the natural resources in Mindanao for USA's long-term interests. But that would be a bold betrayal of the Visiting Forces Agreement which Filipino leaders had belabored to dupe their own people and Constitution in order for the˜Green Beret' to gain foothold in the country beyond the legal reach of Filipino nationalists and anti-American elements. Having failed to tame the recalcitrant MFF and Moro people to live on bended knees, the AFP and their corrupt policitical leaders are praying hard that the Americans make good their avowals to exterminate any trace of terrorism in Mindanao. They have already succeeded in tagging the ASG as "terrorists" who, as Moros also look very much just like the MFF. No one knows, however, what is in the minds of the Americans. When Filipinos kicked the Americans out of Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base some years ago, the latter was made to swallow a bitter pie. But as has been said, ‘treachery and deceit can be virtue for the powerful.'

Menace of another kind

As to the killer flood that plagued the greater Manila area, it may only be by coincidence that a Moro 'alim' had cursed the Philippine government for the AFP's mis-adventurism in Jolo on Eid Il Fitr Day. The 'alim' was berated by the thunderous explosions of bombs and cannons that had badly affected the concentration of the congregation while he was delivering the Eid sermon in the midst of bombing and artillery shelling of Muslim villages on the outskirts of Jolo town from nearby artillery bases. However, what is more disturbing now is not the effect of floods and typhoons that had paralyzed the greater Manila area and the scheduled arrival of thousands of US 'Green Beret' , but the reported serial rapists that prowl the streets of Jolo town. Let us treat first the sick minds within the (Tausug) society before we can have the peace of mind and blessing of Allah to confront the ‘great satan’ amongst the enemy, if they really are bent to declare war upon the Tausugs. How did those people evade the long arms of the law as to victimize so many women and girls without being hauled up by the law enforcement authorities to go scot-free for so long. Is there no more law and order in that part of Mindanao? Is rape of less concern to the authorities than kidnapping just because no Abu Sayyaf is involved or identified among the rapists? Or, do the authorities turn blind eye to cases that only pave the way to moral decadence and blemish to the social fabric of the Moro society because the victims and culprits are all Moros?

For now we can only wait and see what the future holds in store for the Moro territory. If the Americans are serious in developing the huge black gold deposits and the other valuable natural resources that abound inland and offshore throughout Mindanao and Sulu, they should befriend the Moro Mujahideen rather than stir the 'hornet's nest. One thing sure, the normal coexistence between the Moros and Filipinos that characterized their mutual relationships in mid-20^th century may never be the same again. Should the Americans decide to give full-backing to the GRP's Armed Forces of the Philippines, they risk alienating the Bangsamoro people of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago. President Barrack Hussein Obama's government perhaps knows this better.

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