13 July 2000 - ABS-CBN

QUEZON CITY, (ABS-CBN) - "Our government has not declared war against the Bangsamoro people," President Estrada said on Wednesday, in denouncing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF's) declaration of a jihad last Sunday.

Calling the threat of a holy war "unwarranted", the President stressed that the military is running after insurgents, not the entire Bangsamoro populace.

He said the military will continue its offensives against MILF rebels "who wish to torpedo our national efforts to preserve the peace and protect the territorial integrity of our country".

Dr. Abdullah Madale, an Islamic studies expert and consultant of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), also called misplaced Salamat's proclamation of a jihad.

A jihad is only proclaimed if Islam itself is threatened, Madale explained.

"Kapag tinawag na jihad every Muslim is under obligation to fight for Islam. But this is only possible if Islam is really threatened. Sa ngayon personally ay hindi ko nakikita na threatened ang Islam," Madale said.

[When a jihad is called, every Muslim is obligated to fight for Islam. But this is only possible if Islam is really threatened. As of now, I personally don't see Islam being threatened.]

Defense secretary Orlando Mercado belittled the threat of a jihad, expressing optimism that majority of Filipino Muslims would not heed such call.

"We believe the majority of our Muslim brothers are law-abiding, renounce secessionism, as well as violence," Mercado said.

"I don't believe he (Salamat) has the majority of Muslim support in the Philippines," Mercado also said, adding that the capture of rebel camps since May have "degraded the command and control of the rebel forces".

However, Madale also said that the government should not just condemn the declaration of a jihad without knowing the motives behind it.

Even as he praised the Estrada administration for establishing the Mindanao Crisis Committee, Madale added that the government should "redouble its recourse in rehabilitation and programs in Mindanao".

The President should also appoint Muslim leaders who can guide government programs in Mindanao, Madale added.

Mercado assured that after the military established control over Camp Abubakar last Sunday, "the development phase is now being concentrated on".

Rebel strategy
The MILF's call for a jihad is a "strategy" that is "not (of) their wanting", Madale said.

"They keep the strategy of fighting because they found they (MILF) cannot oppose the government openly," he explained.

However, he added that once the reason for a jihad is established, all believers of Islam would be involved.

"People like me and those who understand the situation will ask ourselves a million times kung meron talagang sapat na posisyon na magkaroon kami ng jihad. Because once jihad becomes justified everybody is involved," Madale said.

[People like me and those who understand the situation will ask ourselves a million times if there is sufficient reason for a jihad. Because once jihad becomes justified everybody is involved.]

Madale, however, said that most Muslims could hardly accept that Camp Abubakar has fallen.

"Ang impression ng ordinary Muslims is different. They still cannot accept that the Abubakar has fallen. I have talked to some Muslims and I think and I can feel that eight out 10 believe that Abubakar is still there."

Unknown enemies
Madale warned that the government is up against unknown forces, with the declaration of a jihad or holy war by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He said that the government may no longer be able to identify its enemies and their allies if the MILF rebels go underground.

"Mas mapanganib ito because in the first place we do not know who will be involved in addition to the MILF. Hindi na natin alam kung sino ang nasa frontline ngayon, sino ang kalaban natin."

[It would be more dangerous because we do not know who will be involved in addition to the MILF. We wouldn't know who will be in the frontline now, who our enemies are.]

Madale also warned that displaced MILF rebels would resort to "hit and run encounters" and put Mindanao in continual terror.

"In the sense na mag-underground na sila, they will no longer be fighting openly. They will probably engage in hit and run encounters. So, mas nagiging serious ngayon ang mangyayari sa Mindanao," he said.

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