A powerful military commander of the Moro
National Liberation Front in Central Mindanao who commands a
very big number of armed forces have had decided to abandon
the September 2, 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the
Philippine government and the MNLF and decided to continue the
original aspiration of the MNLF for freedom, independence and
self-determination of the Bangsamoro people through armed
struggle.
Abdulrahman Tutin alias “Commander Basco” decided
to turn his back on the peace agreement following a series of
joint military attack against his men at Camp Bulatukan, their
main headquarters in Datu Piang, Maguindanao that resulted to
the killing of at least 9 MNLF regulars, including his newly
wed son.
The combined soldiers from the 32nd, 37th
and 47th Infantry Battalions, all under the 302nd
Brigade of the 6th Infantry Division simultaneously
attacked the MNLF Camp from ground and air using tanks and
OV-10 bombers and helicopter gunship without serious reason.
The area is a recognized camp of the MNLF and has been
declared as peace and development community (PDC) by the
United Nations Development Programme. As a pilot area, it is a
convergence of peace and development programs of various
foreign donor-countries, which include UNDP, European Union,
International Labor Organization, and USAid.
Commander Basco said the military attacks in their area
had resulted in the destruction of crops, civilian houses, and
projects infused by the foreign countries.
Aside from being a military camp, the area was also
made as a resettlement for the families of the MNLF farmers
who were not integrated into the Armed Forces of the
Philippines following the signing of the peace accord.
In his open letter
dated June 12, 2002 circulated among media outlets in Cotabato
City, Commander Basco, MNLF leader in Sedepan (Western)
Kotawato State Revolutionary Committee, said, “I have lost
hope in the Final Peace Agreement. I am cutting the umbilical
cord that is strangulating us in the MNLF into a gradual
destruction.”
“From hereon, I and my men in the MNLF State of
Sedepan (Western) Kotawato are abandoning the peace agreement
with the AFP. We will continue the armed struggle of our
people because the Filipino government will never give us the
chance to live a peaceful existence…There is no more reason
to cooperate with the government because its claim to
sincerity is proven empty.”
Commander Basco called the attack as “cowardly,
dastardly and treacherous
act on the part of the AFP,” and condemned the
political leadership for condoning the military action.
In he letter he stressed that he is now taking command
from MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari, who he said, “has also
suffered the same or far worse injustice from the hands of the
cruel and evil soldiers of the AFP.”
Commander Basco is a member of the Executive Council of
15, an MNLF breakaway group that earlier planned but failed to
oust Misuari as Chairman of the MNLF.
But their painful experience from the hands of the
military had made him realized that the government is not
sincere and faithful to the letter and spirit of the September
2, 1996 Peace Agreement and so he decided to return to the
mainstream MNLF group under Chairman Misuari.
“I am calling on my brothers and sisters in the MNLF
to do self-introspection. You have to exercise foresight and
extreme caution in dealing with the GRP, AFP and all the
politico-administrative instrumentalities of this government
that is out to drive us from our homeland,” he added.
Basco also called on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) to take wisdom from the “painful experience” of the
MNLF. He said the MILF couldn’t expect to receive better
treatment from the AFP as what happened to the MNLF. # # #
(Note: Following is the copy of the open
statements of Commander Basco Tutin on the military attack
against the MNLF under his command)
June 12, 2002
TO THE BANGSAMORO PEOPLE, FELLOW MUJAHIDIN
AND ALL PEACE-LOVING PERSONS
As of this writing, the Armed Forces of the Philippines
is continuously attacking Camp Bulatukan, otherwise known as
Camp Tutin, a recognized MNLF Camp and declared as a Peace and
Development Community (PDC) by no less than the United Nations
Development Programme. It is the headquarters of the
undersigned and serves as a resettlement of farmers who
returned to their fields after the signing of the Final Peace
Agreement of September 2, 1996.
But since yesterday, soldiers belonging to the 32nd
IB (Infantry Battalion), 37th IB, and 47th
IB, all in the 302nd Brigade, 6th
Infantry Division, have virtually converted this peaceful
civilian community into a war zone again. OV-10 bombers and
helicopter gunships poured down bombs and surface-to-air
missiles into hapless civilians. This series of attacks has
led to the destruction of crops, houses and even projects
infused by foreign countries. It has caused the death of some
MNLF regulars, including my newly wed son.
Since the signing of the Final Peace Agreement between
the MNLF and GRP, the undersigned has faithfully abided with
the spirit and letter of the said agreement. Together with his
brothers and sisters in the Front, the undersigned has placed
so much hope that the Agreement will finally give them peace
and allow them to join mainstream society. BUT THE GRP,
THROUGH ITS AFP, HAS PROVEN TO ALL AND SUNDRY THAT IT DOES
NOT, AND WILL NEVER HONOR ANY AGREEMENT. It uses the Agreement
only to weaken and eventually destroy the MNLF.
It really betrays logic for a partner in peace and
development to attack us. There appears an obvious plan,
hatched by the military in cahoots with traditional and
conservative politicians, to drive us out of our native
places.
Because of this cowardly, dastardly, treacherous act on
the part of the AFP and its political leadership condoning
this attack, I HAVE LOST ALL HOPE IN THE FINAL PEACE
AGREEMENT. I AM CUTTING THE UMBILICAL CORD THAT IS
STRANGULATING US IN THE MNLF INTO A GRADUAL DESTRUCTION.
From hereon, I and my men in the MNLF State of Sedepan
(Western) Kutawato are ABANDONING THE AGREEMENT WITH THE AFP.
We will continue the armed struggle of our people because the
Filipino government will never give us the chance to live a
peaceful existence. We have no recourse but to defend
ourselves, our families, land and dignity against the
adventurism of the military and the palpable greed of
politicians. THERE IS NO MORE REASON TO COOPERATE WITH THE
GOVERNMENT BECAUSE ITS CLAIM TO SINCERITY IS PROVEN EMPTY. It
is only deceiving us with hallow promises. Moreover, it will
eliminate us when the occasion, such as now, presents itself
to them.
I AM THEREFORE TAKING COMMAND FROM BROTHER NUR
MISUARI WHO SUFFERED THE SAME, OR FAR WORSE INJUSTICE AS WE DO
EXPERIENCE FROM THE HANDS OF THE CRUEL AND EVIL SOLDIERS OF
THE AFP. THE FIELDS ARE ONCE AGAIN OPEN FOR MARTYRDOM AND THE
COMMAND IS MINE AGAIN TO EXERCISE. WAR HAS BEEN DECLARED
AGAINST US EVEN THOUGH WE ALWAYS HATE IT. WE HAVE NO OPTION
LEFT.
I am calling all my brothers and sisters in the MNLF to
do self-introspection. You have to exercise foresight and
extreme caution in dealing with the GRP, AFP and all the
politico-administrative instrumentality of the government that
is out to drive us from our homeland. It is now obvious that
those of us who were not integrated into the AFP are
considered outlaws by this Government. LET US RETURN TO OUR
ORIGINAL CAUSE FOR INDEPENDENCE THROUGH ARMED STRUGGLE.
I am also appealing to our brothers in the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front to take wisdom from this painful experience.
The Government is also out to destroy you, as proven by the
all-out war of its former president. You can never hope that
you will receive better treatment over us. I am earnestly
calling you to look out for the treachery of the GRP and its
AFP.
LET US NOW CONTINUE THE ARMED STRUGGLE OF OUR
ANCESTORS. IT IS THE ONLY GUARANTY FOR OUR SAFETY AS
INDIVIDUAL AND AS A NATION. JOIN US IN CONDEMNING THE AFP,
EVEN AS WE URGE YOU TO CLOSE RANKS WITH US IN THIS FIGHT FOR
SURVIVAL AND SELF-DETERMINATION.
And with Allah is victory.
(SIGNED) ABDULRAHMAN
“Basco” TUTIN
