STOP THE WAR IN MINDANAO! STOP THE MILITARY OFFENSIVES, NOW!

AJLPP Update

Mindanao War

Dec. 22, 2008

Muslim leaders condemn twin blasts in Iligan--Mohagher Iqbal, MILF peace negotiator, says military’s accusation is not only untrue, but also malicious

By Julmunir I. Jannaral, Correspondent

COTABATO CITY: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Friday condemned the recent Iligan twin blasts as evil acts and vehemently denied to being the perpetrator of the atrocity that claimed the lives of not only the Christian residents of Iligan City but even the Muslims as well.

Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman and civil-military affairs chief, told The Manila Times that the MILF as an organization has nothing to do with the bombing that killed three persons and injuring 47 others.

Among those killed were identified as Erwin Suico, 20, from Pugaan village, Iligan City; Jonas Badelles, 22, from Poblacion village, Iligan City and Jalilah Mangondato, a 22-year-old Mara nao Muslim from Marawi City and she was also a nursing student studying in Iligan City.

“We highly condemn this barbaric act against humanity,” Kabalu said. He added that the MILF is urging for a thorough investigation of the incident if only to uncover the real perpetrator or the people behind the heinous crime.

In the same manner, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal also told The Manila Times that in the name of the MILF Central Committee, he is also condemning the twin blasts in Iligan City in the strongest sense, saying that these are evil acts that should not be tolerated.

However, just like Kabalu he also said that there should not be any stone left unturned regarding the incident especially since the Armed Forces of the Philippines has immediately pointed an accusing finger at the MILF as the perpetrator of the dastardly act even before a probe can be conducted.

“The military’s accusation on the MILF as the perpetrator of the Iligan blasts is not only untrue, but also malicious,” Iqbal pointed out.

In a related development, Mu ham mad Muntassir, chairperson of the MILF Committee on Da’wah (Islamic call), also issued a statement in behalf of the MILF central committee.

“The devil’s advocates have again struck and spread their venom victimizing the innocent civilians. We join the civilized world in condemning this satanic activity,” Muntassir said in a statement issued Thursday afternoon right after the blasts.

The explosions occurred a day before President Gloria Arroyo’s scheduled visit to Iligan City to attend the inauguration of Suka Pinakurat Processing Plant belonging to Green Gold Gourmet food products in Pugaan village, Iligan City.

This was the second time this month that attackers targeted an area that the President was scheduled to visit. It can be recalled that on December 12, President Arroyo canceled a trip to Shariff Kabunsuan Province after an improvised explosive device went off near a public market on the day before her scheduled visit.

Iligan City is President Arroyo’s maternal hometown.

The first bomb exploded at 1:25 p.m. inside the Unicity Commercial Center. The next explosion occurred 20 minutes later at the Jerry Supermart.

Both improvised explosives were left at the baggage counters of both Unicity and Jerry’s Supermart, where an L-300 van was also destroyed in the attack, the Iligan police said.

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he Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Friday condemned the recent Iligan twin blasts as evil acts and vehemently denied to being the perpetrator of the atrocity that claimed the lives of not only the Christian residents of Iligan City but even the Muslims as well.

Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman and civil-military affairs chief, told The Manila Times that the MILF as an organization has nothing to do with the bombing that killed three persons and injuring 47 others.