source: gmanews.tv

MANILA, Philippines - Several Moro congressmen on Tuesday condemned the killing of helpless civilians by suspected members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front over the weekend.

In a statement, Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimapora said the denial issued by the MILF leadership regarding the involvement of their men in the attacks proves that they are ashamed of the terrorist acts committed by their members.

He also said that the MILF admission that the attacks had no authorization from the leadership was an indication of a weak organization.

“Muslims and Christians alike condemn the terrorist acts of the MILF. And I am ashamed that some of them claim to be Islamic scholars. I’m sure that their inhuman acts in Lanao Norte have eroded respect for the cause of the MILF, even those who help the MILF," Dimaporo said.

Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong of Maguindanao reminded the MILF that killing innocent people was "anti-Islamic. "

“It is unfortunate that these things happened, Perpetrated by a group coming from MILF who is talking peace. This is no longer in pursuit of rebellion, not a political crime, but an ordinary crime," he said in a text message.

Datumanong stressed that government and MILF leadership should impose the full force of the law against the perpetrators.

Killing a 95-year-old person and other helpless innocent civilians will turn “freedom" fighters into common criminals like robbers, kidnappers and murderers, Dimaporo said.

“Their pronounced cause of Quranic life for Muslims is laudable, but their ways of attaining this are condemnable, " he said.

Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman, who has expressed support for the GRP-MILF peace process said there was no excuse for the Lanao incidents.

“We understand their frustrations, but killing innocents people and destruction of properties of civilians cannot be justified by any reasons," he said.

“We call on the MILF leadership to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation and perpetrators of this incident be punished.. Likewise, the military must be cautious in their punitive action and spare innocents for any harm and rights of individual must be respected," he added.

Despite the Lanao incident, Datumanong and Dimaporo both agreed that government should not abandon its peace negotiation with MILF to seek peace in Mindanao.

“We must not lose hope for peace. We must pursue peace with them as their leadership disown their attack in Lanao del Norte. But we must seek redress in file criminal cases against those involve in the atrocities," Dimaporo said. - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV