COTABATO CITY — Senior commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front–Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF) have issued a joint statement strongly denouncing the recent remarks of MBHTE Deputy Minister Haron S. Meling against Chief Minister and BIAF Chief of Staff Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” A. Macacua.
Meling had reportedly claimed that Macacua was acting as a “puppet” of the Philippine government, allegedly carrying out a plan orchestrated by Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. to dismantle the MILF.
In a united response, MILF-BIAF base commanders branded the accusations as “baseless and damaging,” stressing that the statements not only attacked the reputation of Macacua but also endangered the unity that has been carefully built within the organization after years of struggle and sacrifice.
“These assertions are not only groundless but also detrimental to the fabric of unity our organization strives to maintain,” the commanders declared. “Chief Minister Macacua has devoted his life to the Bangsamoro cause and continues to lead with integrity. To speak ill of him is to undermine our collective strength.”
The commanders called on Deputy Minister Meling to issue a public explanation and apology, urging the imposition of “appropriate penalties” for what they described as a serious act of besmirching the Chief Minister’s name.
Grounding their appeal on Islamic teachings, the MILF-BIAF leadership invoked verses from the Qur’an and the Hadith, highlighting justice, solidarity, and brotherhood as fundamental principles that should guide leaders and followers alike.
They warned that divisive rhetoric threatens to derail the peace process and fracture the unity of the Bangsamoro people.
“As the MILF-BIAF stands at a pivotal junction in its history, we cannot allow rhetoric that seeks to fracture our organization to prevail. Unity in our ranks is paramount,” the statement said.
The group urged all officials in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to exercise restraint in their words and actions, stressing that the strength of the MILF “lies in its unity” and in its continued commitment to peace and development.