Arrested MILF commander freed

Ferdinandh B. Cabrera

February 26, 2014
1:09 am

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/25 Feb) – A commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front who was arrested Sunday night was released early Tuesday evening on orders of the court.

Government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said in a text message that “the court granted the motion for reinvestigation of the issuance of the warrant” for the arrest of Ustadz Wahid Tundok, commander of the 118th Base Command of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).

Tundok was arrested late Sunday afternoon by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Marine forces in a checkpoint in Matampay Bridge here, on his way back to his base from a two-day meeting at the MILF’s main camp in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat town, Maguindanao.

The CIDG in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) served Tundok a warrant of arrest on charges of multiple murder and arson. When and where the murder was committee is not clear since no copy of the warrant has been made public.[]

Maj. Gen. Romeo Gapuz, chief of the 6th Infantry Division, said Tundok underwent a medical check-up Tuesday, prior to his release.

Tundok was endorsed by the CIDG to the 6th Infantry Division camp in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao after his arrest on Sunday due to tension brought about by possible retaliation from his members.

MILF spokesperson Von Al Haq confirmed their comrade was released at dusk today. “I was informed that he was brought to Camp Darapanan,” he said.

Major Dante Gamia, chief of the 6th ID’s public information office said Tundok was no longer in camp. “I was informed that he was fetched by certain Mayor Dimaukom.[]

” He was referring to Mayor Sam Dimaukom of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao.

MILF vice-chair for political affairs, Ghazali Jaafar said of Tundok’s reported release: “That is good if true.”

Tundok was in Darapanan to attend Saturday a meeting of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission’s Committee on Justice and Security, where the Normalization process was discussed, and a meeting of the MILF Central Committee on Sunday to update them on the status of the peace process and the preparations for the signing of the comprehensive agreement.

Tundok’s arrest alarmed civil society groups like the Bangsamoro Consortium of Just Peace (BCJP).

Abdulbasit “Bobby” Benito, executive director of BCJP, said they are “afraid of the repercussions, the retaliation of the top commander’s followers” and the loss of trust that it may spawn.[]

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