“The meeting will end on March 11th. It is aimed at educating all ranks of MILF on the relevance of the peace talks and processes,” said Ahmad Lao, chair of the Media Committee of the conference.
The MILF, most of them in full battle gear, their firearms highly visible, came from neighboring areas and as far away as Davao, North Cotabato and Sarangani, on board trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, vans.
Marawi residents waved green flaglets and chanted “Allahu Akbar!” as they passed.
A number of city’s traffic police enforcers also escorted them until they reached the city’s boundary.
MILF members from the three Zamboanga provinces,, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, and Lanao del Norte were blocked by soldiers when they reached Kapatagan town “to remind them that they ought not to display their high powered firearms” while on travel.
MILF members from the two Lanao provinces welcomed provincial delegates by lining up on the roadside in full-battle gear, the colors of their armbands signifying their battalion’s affiliation.
Even solders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stationed in detachments along the highway to Butig also came out and waved their hands as the MILF convoy passed.
As delegates reached Camp Bushra, agongs were played. Sports enthusiasts played sipa sa manggis, a traditional Maranao sports.
The erstwhile MILF camp was literally transformed into a village with various tents pitched to house delegates.
Maranao entrepreneurs also built stalls to sell food and malong, kumbong, and Maranao delicacies.
Today, March 9, MILF vice chair Aleem Abdulaziz S. Mimbantas officially welcomed all delegates to the conference whose theme is “One people, One struggle.”
MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim delivered his State of Jihad Address before his constituency but details of the speech have not been given to the media. The media is allowed entry only on March 11.
Tomorrow, March 10, Ebrahim will have an exclusive meeting with the MILF committees, provincial chairmen and front commanders for ground reports and assessment.
The MILF will also discuss updates on the Peace Process with the government.
Part of the program includes the “reading of the resolution of all provincial chairmen and MILF Base commanders reaffirming the mandate given to the MILF Peace Panel in the conduct of the ongoing peace talks between the MILF the government.”
Ebrahim will talk with selected groups who want to pay a “courtesy call” on him on Tuesday afternoon. (Violeta M. Gloria/MindaNews)