More cracks are showing in the ranks of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as the erstwhile rebel group heads to the polls to seek a democratic mandate if the regional parliamentary elections push through on Oct. 13.
The recent firestorm stems from the social media comment of Deputy Education Minister Haron Meling characterizing Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Abdulraof ‘Sammy Gambar’ Macacua as a ‘puppet’ of Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., whom he also described as someone who is out ‘to dismantle the MILF.’
Meling is identified with a faction of the MILF that had questioned the appointments made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last March to the interim regional government, especially his pick of Macacua, then acting provincial governor of Maguindanao del Norte, as Chief Minister, replacing MILF chief Murad Ebrahim.
Macacua’s appointment on March 12 came as Ebrahim tendered his resignation a week earlier so he could focus on leading the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, the MILF’s political party, to a victorious outcome in the upcoming BARMM elections.
Although Ebrahim had praised Macacua’s leadership experience and bade him well in his new role, the issue about him being eased out had refused to die down, splitting the MILF’s supporters.
Over the weekend, Ebrahim told journalists he was indeed eased out, only to backtrack in saying that he refused an offer to be a Member of Parliament (MP) as he ‘already resigned from the BARMM.’
On Monday, some 14 base commanders of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the MILF armed wing headed by Macacua, condemned Meling’s remarks as ‘not only baseless but also detrimental to the fabric of unity’ of the group, which fought four decades of secessionist war with the government and won political concessions through 17 years of peace negotiations.
‘We cannot afford to allow the rhetoric that seeks to fracture our organization to prevail. We urge all parties, especially those in positions of authority, to exercise caution in their words and actions,’ the base commanders said in a joint statement.
MP Abdulbasit Benito called out Meling’s remarks as ‘reckless,’ for which he should be made accountable.
MP Naguib Sinarimbo said Meling’s remarks were ‘utterly unbecoming of a public official, especially one who serves within the very administration led by the individual he now seeks to defame.’
Sinarimbo, who served as one of the legal counsels of the MILF during its negotiation with the government, stressed that while constructive criticism is a vital part of democratic discourse, ‘it must be exercised within the bounds of truth, respect, and legality.’
Efforts to reach Meling proved futile as requests for comments remain unanswered.
But Deputy Speaker Lanang Ali Jr. hit back at the base commanders for supposedly being selective in whom to defend among the MILF leaders, pointing out that Ebrahim was also heavily criticized on social media.
‘With just one comment from Haron Meling, you already react this way?’ Ali wrote on social media./coa