Puno challenges the central committee of MILF to surrender Kato and Bravo to show their sincerity in peace process

Miami
August 22, 2008
Story: Puno challenges the central committee of MILF to surrender Kato and Bravo to show their sincerity in peace process

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno is now challenging the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leaders to surrender Ameril Umbra Kato alias Commander Kato and Abdulrahman Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo to the government and show that they are serious with the peace process.

“If they are truly committed to peace, if they really want the peace process to continue then we expect them fully to cooperate with our system of justice. If they will not do anything, it is tantamount to approval of the criminal actions of these lawless MILF elements and it will reflect insincerity,” Puno said.

The secretary also said that if the MILF Central Committee does not know anything on what happened or on the actions of Bravo and Kato, they should make their way on surrendering them and give justice to the Christians and Muslims who died during the atrocities of the MILF.

“The MILF Central Committee should be the one giving assurance to the people in Mindanao that they are also important for them as persons, but unfortunately the residents there were being killed by these lawless MILF elements,” Puno said in a press briefing at Cam Crame.

“To prove that they are true in their words that they are also after the peace in Mindanao and they want these talk to prosper we are requesting them (MILF Central Committee) to surrender to us Commanders Bravo and Kato even Pangalian,” he continued.

He even tagged Commander Bravo as “liar” after hearing reports that Bravo is denying his involvements in the attacked happened in Lanao del Norte. He even called Commanders Kato and Bravo as “mamatay tao” (murderer) after they killed, burned the houses and robbed the residents there. “Shame on them, after what they did to the people their, they will deny it. Kato and Bravo can be considered as mamamatay tao it is very clear that they are the ones who killed those people who are quietly leaving in their respective areas.”

Meanwhile, Puno even warned MILF negotiator Mohager Iqbal on be careful also on what he is saying after Iqbal said in other radio interviews that reached them that MILF has internal process on reprimanding their people who violate their rules. “With those kinds of remarks he is already violating the constitution, I hope he was only misquoted.”

He added that if the MILF will not be able to cooperate with them and will not surrender Kato and Bravo it will only prove that the MILF Central Committee has no right with the MILF group. “It will show that they cannot control their members. So maybe our government will have to look for other officers that would help us talk to them about peace, because we might be talking to wrong people after all, “Puno said.

However, Puno said that there are already cases filed against Commander Bravo and its followers who attacked Lanao del Norte last August 18.

The cases were files last August 20 in Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Tubod, Lanao Del Norte versus Abdurahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo, Abu Sawaf, Abu Subair, Alim Pangalian alias Commander Pangalian, Lunday Dayaan alias Commander Topsider, Commander Luksa Datu, Commander Macaslang, Commander Mercury, Commander Santiago, Commander Minsupala and 80 John Does.

Those 31 MILF who surrendered last Wednesday were included in the charge sheets that were filed before the Prosecutor’s Office. If these 31, are willing to be state witness it will be up to the Prosecutor if they will approve of it or not, Puno said.

The cases that were filed against them are one count of murder, three counts of frustrated murders and one arson. Other cases are still to follow.

On Monday and Tuesday, August 25 and 26, Puno said that he will be having dialogues with local officials, Bishops, Ulamas and different people in the areas affected to take a closer look at the situation and try to see what is the best way to restore normalcy to the lives of everyone there.