THE military is planning to dig up the graves that the soldiers found while clearing the captured camp of wanted Moro leader Juaning Abdusalam in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay, to make sure they really contain bodies and not arms and ammunition.

This was disclosed on Sunday by Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman for the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom).He said  the military wanted to make sure the freshly dug graves were for the bodies of the bandits who were killed when military forces assaulted the camp.

Before the ground assault that was spearheaded by Army Scout Rangers and members of the Light Reaction Company that led to the capture of Abusalam’s camp in Sitio Talaib, Barangay Labatan, the camp was bombed and strafed for two days by Air Force planes.

The military suspected that the graves may contain the bodies of dead bandits who died during the two-day bombing.

But Cabangbang said a partly buried caliber .50 machine gun that the assaulting team recovered during the operations prompted military officials to question what lay beneath those graves.

In addition, of the more than 100 men of Abdusalam, only 12 were reported killed.

The military is still searching for Abdusalam and the rest of his men.

Cabangbang said they need to seek permission from the Moro’s Imams so that members of the National Police’s Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) can undertake the excavation, and even possible exhumation of the bodies.

“We need to have the Soco and Imams there in order to ensure that what were buried there were people and not weapons,” he said.

“The caliber .50 machine gun that we recovered was buried in a freshly dug [pit]. So if you will not thoroughly investigate, you will think that what was buried in it was a body,” he added.

During the clearing operations, the troops found at least 15 freshly dug graves, but Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, Armed Forces Wesmincom chief, ordered the soldiers not to disturb the graves.

“General Ferrer ordered the soldiers not to touch the graves because it is against Muslim culture to disturb buried bodies,” Cabangbang said.

Meanwhile, Armed Forces spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said the leadership is planning to deploy the 104th Infantry Brigade to Basilan from Lanao provinces to boost forces in the island-province.

“The Armed Forces has to be dynamic, responsive and proactive. Realignment of security forces and redeployment of units happen periodically and may be done anytime with the fluidity of the threat environment that the military is confronting,” he said.

The brigade, if redeployed, will augment the Special Operations Task Force Basilan, whose members are elite Rangers and Special Forces.

Peace advocate urges govt, MILF to pursue peace, justice

A MORO peace advocate, meanwhile, underscored that “the road to peace is through the negotiating table, and creating the proper atmosphere in providing continuity to the peace talks is essential in forging a peace agreement between the government and the MILF.”

Saeed Daof, a staunch supporter of the peace process in Mindanao, said he supports President Aquino’s decision in ruling out an all-out war with the MILF.

“That is statesmanship as far as I am concerned,” Daof said.

“He [Mr. Aquino] does not want to throw away the success that his administration has accomplished in just over a year in convincing the MILF to drop its demand for secession or independence. He wants continuity of the implementation of his development program. He does not want the country to be embroiled in a senseless war or conflict,” Daof stressed.

He noted that “the MILF could be in a position to help identify and cooperate in arresting misguided elements suspected of involvement in the armed encounters that left several soldiers and a number of civilians dead and scores of others wounded.

Such gesture, Daof said, could serve as part of a confidence-building measure in promoting the continuity of the peace talks that is essential to forging a formal peace agreement.

Daof added that “the government should ensure a fair trial for those apprehended, punish those found guilty and exonerate the innocent.”

Asked about the possibility that his views might be interpreted by the MILF as a weakness on the part of the President, Daof replied: “It takes two to tango. Let’s not kid ourselves. I know and you know that the Philippine military establishment is far superior in strength to the MILF. But you see, our government’s intention is not to completely annihilate the MILF or remove them and their constituency from the face of the earth.”

“The government’s ultimate goal is to integrate them and their constituents into the mainstream society of the country. After all, they are Filipinos. Like me, I am a Muslim, but my friends and associates consider me a Filipino.”

Daof had extensive experience in dealing with the MILF since he was a former MILF emissary extraordinary and plenipotentiary and concurrent chairman of the economic development committee under the leadership of the late MILF founder and Chairman Salamat Hashim, and as incumbent chairman of the Southern Philippines Development Authority. He also served the government through a series of administrations in various capacities.

He believes that both the government and the MILF peace panels should not lose sight of their shared aspirations despite some obstacles along the way.”

He reiterated his appeal for sobriety and restraint among the MILF hierarchy to serve the ends of peace and justice.

“With utmost respect and concern, I wish to appeal to MILF Chairman Ibrahim al Haj Murad with the support of MILF peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, MILF Vice Chairman for Military Affairs Abdulazis Mambintas and Vice Chairman for Political Affairs Ghazali Jaafar to do everything within your collective power and command in preventing the further escalation of Philippine military and MILF encounters in the interest of peace which all peace-loving people of the country are anxiously awaiting to be had.”

In issuing his plea, Daof adverted to the adverse impact of armed hostilities on the innocent civilians.  “Feel at heart the suffering, the loss and the displacement of civilians.”

“You have gone a long way, almost half a century in asserting the objectives of your cause. You have shown and proven your point that you must be heard, and you have at last received the attention and respect of the President of the Philippines to resolve your differences with the government through peaceful negotiation.

Do not waste this chance to achieve a formal peace agreement with the government,” Daof declared in his statement of appeal.