MILF FAVORS U.S. AS PEACE BROKER

Zamboanga City, June 2, 2003 -- Moro Islamic Libertion Front spokesman Eid 

Kabalu said the MILF is willing to resume the stalled peace talks with 

Arroyo's government, but they want the United States to broker the 

negotiations. Washington had earlier said it was willing to help.

"We want them to broker the negotiations, just as they did between the 

Palestine and Israel," Kabalu said.

Kabalu also assured the military MILF fighters would not attack any of its 

installations during the unilateral 10-day truce the rebel group had 

announced would start today.

"There will no one among our troops in the ground who will disobey the 

order. If there is anyone, it is up to the MILF hierarchy to discipline 

them but I'm sure there will be no one who will disobey," Kabalu said.

He said MILF fighters will stay on the ground while the cease-fire is in 

effect but will fight back if attacked.

"We will remain in the defensive position. Definitely, we will not initiate 

any attack. We will not be asking the government to do the same, this is a 

unilateral act," he said.

Kabalu also said the MILF declared the cease-fire "because a lot of people, 

including the church groups, have been asking us to stop the violence in 

Mindanao."

Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, AFP vice chief and spokesman, said the MILF is not 

the target of punitive actions but perpetrators of recent terrorist acts.

Police and military have tagged the MILF as behind the Feb. 20 bombing of 

the Awang airport in Maguindanao; the bomb attack at Davao City 

International Airport on March 4; the April 2 explosion at the Sasah wharf 

also in Davao City; the attack by about 150 rebels on Siocon, Zamboanga del 

Norte; and the bombing of the Koronadal, South Cotabato market.

The Army's 4th Scout Ranger Battalion captured last Saturday an MILF camp 

in Poona Piagapo town, Lanao del Norte.

The camp was the former base of Abdullah Macapaar alias Commander Bravo of 

the MILF's 301st Unit Command. It has a fortified bunker and living 

quarters that can accommodate 100 persons.

Bravo was said to have led various MILF atrocities in Lanao del Norte, 

including the April 24 raid of military and police detachments in Maigo 

town where 13 civilians were killed.

Recovered from the camp, believed abandoned by the rebels earlier, were 

five M203 grenade launchers, three rounds of rocket-propelled grenade 

ammunitions, four 60mm mortar shell, and assorted war materiel.