MILF offers to help rescue civilians trapped in Marawi

MANILA - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has offered to help the Philippine government rescue civilians who are caught in the middle of hostilities in Marawi City, an MILF official said Wednesday.

MILF Vice Chair Ghazali Jaafar said reliable sources told their group that there are civilians who are still in their homes in Marawi City "because they are afraid to come out."

"We offered our help to our beloved president to help facilitate the coming out of civilians from their residences and the good president granted our request," he said.

In a speech in Sulu over the weekend, President Duterte said fighters from the MILF, Moro National Liberation Front, and communist New People’s Army may help the government fight the Maute terrorists, promising them the “same pay and same privileges” as what soldiers and policemen get.

Jaafar revealed that their meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte in Panacan, Davao City was requested through National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza.

Apart from the "humanitarian action" the rebel group offered, Jaafar said they wanted to hear from Duterte how his declaration of martial law throughout Mindanao will possibly affect the peace process in general, the MILF and the MNLF.

"He (Duterte) assured us that he remained to his commitment to the Muslims in the Philippines to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law into law and it will be enacted by the Congress," he said.

"We hope that the Congress--both Senate and Lower House--will listen to that and respect the President because this is the only way to implement the political negotiated solution to the problem in Mindanao--the [Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro], which provides for a Bangsamoro government," he added.

Jaafar admitted that there is growing frustration among their ranks because the negotiations with the government has been going on for more than four decades. He added, however, that they hope and pray that a Bangsamoro agreement will finally be implemented under the Duterte administration.