June 4, 2012 News: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) protested the raid and arrest of a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) by composite troops of Philippine National Police and Philippine Army early morning of June 2, 2012 at Fishing Village, Malita, Davao del Sur.

Galib dela Cruz, member of the 105th Base Command – BIAF, native of Fishing Village, was praying Subuh (dawn prayer), when troops of the Police Special Action Force (SAF) and SWAT, raided and went inside his house and conducted search and seizure.

After he prayed and had changed his clothes for prayer, he was arrested by the raiding troops in front of his pregnant wife. He did not refuse and there was no exchange of fire.

The government troops arrested him on the basis of three firearms found from his house. But it is normal for a rebel to have firearms inside his residence.

The MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) said it protested this case of raid and arrest of Galib as clear violation of the existing ceasefire accord between the government and MILF.

“Raid and arrest against MILF members who has not committed against crime is a violation of the truce,” the Secretariat of the MILF CCCH said.

If the government will issue search warrant against MILF members and used whatever material they would find such as firearms, which is normally will be found inside houses of MILF commander, such as the case involving Galib, hence a mockery and dishonour of the ceasefire between the government and MILF, the MILF Secretariat said.

“What had been done against Galib can be done as well against MILF leaders and this is really revolting,” he said.

The confidence of the MILF commanders are very much affected with this case not to mention all the previous other cases of arrest and detention of many MILF leaders who are now being treated as political detainees.

“Our cooperation with our counterpart will be affected if nothing will be done by the government on the raid and arrest against Galib,” he said.

He said Galib was cooperating with and helping the local government of Malita and the local police command on efforts to maintain peace and order. But why the raid and arrest against him. He has not done anything that is common crime or against the law other than being a BIAF rebel commander? He has open communication for cooperation with the Mayor and the police.

Galib was a security of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) from 2004 to 2008 that monitors the implementation of the ceasefire accord between the government and MILF.

“Why raid, arrest and detain Galib who had been working for ceasefire and respecting the peace process between the government and MILF?” In this case, it only showed that even MILF member who are working for ceasefire such as the IMT security and the MILF CCCH is not safe from being raided, arrested.

In related case, a member of MILF was also apprehended by government troops while on his way to attend the meeting of the MILF leadership in Lanao del Sur with the IMT high delegation last May 28, 2012.

The MILF CCCH Chairman hit the arrest effected by Philippine Army troops as total disrespect to the meeting between the MILF leadership in Lanao with the IMT that aims to promote the ceasefire and the peace process.