An Official Publication                                                                 Special Release No. 3. September 18, 2008

An excerpt of the interview to Commander Pusa, the supreme leader of the group called “DIFA’UN NAFS” which means Self-defense, by Zulfikar bin Bangsamoro, a correspondent of the Moro in Focus. The interview was conflicted in the camp of Commander Pusa somewhere in the vast jungle in Mindanao, between Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur on 13 September 2008 corresponds to13 Ramadhan 1429 .

Zulfikar: Assalamu alaikum! Brother Commander Pusa, we are so tired in the hours of walk just to visit you in your camp because our people want to know more about you since you made a public pronouncement that you will wage an ethnic and religious war against the Jerusalem Movement (NJM) of Emmanuel Pinol.

Pusa: Waalaikumisalam! Brother Zulfikar, may Allah SWT reward you with His highest heaven for your effort to meet us. We are very glad actually to talk to you so that our side of the issue will be disclosed to the public and hopefully they will sympathize with our cause.

Zulfikar: What can you say about the deteriorating peace situation in Mindanao? Do you think that their renewed violence will be prevented from its possible escalation not only in Mindanao but through out the country?

Pusa: The resumption of the conflict in Mindanao can be imputed to the sinister plan of Manny Pinol, the Supreme Commander of the New Jerusalem Movement. This group of Pinol did not want peace in Mindanao because the NJM believes that any peace formula in Mindanao is always to the disadvantage of the interest of the Christian settlers particularly the Ilonggo land grabbers who forcibly taken our lands through fraud and arms. It appears that the Arroyo Administration has no political will to finally resolve through negotiated political settlement the Mindanao problem. In this country, anti-Muslim leaders such as the likes of Pinol and Lobregat are the influential and powerful than Malacañang that is the reason why the signing of the MOA-AD was aborted. The implication of the GRP’s reneging in its commitment to the peace process is that the government wants to prolong war in Mindanao. If their conflict will not be averted, this will spill over not only in Mindanao region but the entire country will be affected.

Zulfikar: Is your group a branch or splinter group of MILF or MNLF or Abu Sayyaf?

Pusa: No, we are a separate group, we are not affiliated to the existing Moro liberation movement. But we are sympathizers of our brother Mujahideen in the MILF, MNLF and Abu Sayyaf. Our cause is the same and we have common enemies- the military and the NJM and other Christian vigilante groups.

Zulfikar: People say that your nom Daguerre PUSA is actually the acronym of your group which is called Patriotic Union and Salvation Army (PUSA)? Is that correct?

Pusa: That is not correct. I coined my alias Pusa when I fought against the ILAGA which means “rats”, I was the Pusa (cat), their adversary who pursued them (rats) to punish them for their atrocities and inhuman acts they had committed against the Muslims. I joined those who fought ILAGA group, I was too young at that time and by the help of Allah SWT, I was able to defend our people against Christian fanatical warriors. I had killed many of the ILAGA warrior with my own bare hands, hehe.. (chuckles). Going back to your question actually the name of our group is “Difa’un Nafs” (Self-defense). Members of this group are my former commander and also we will recruit new fighters! We believe that the war between the MILF and government is not political but religious war. We will help MILF in this fight, because this is not only the war of MILF but it is a Bangsamoro-Filipino war. If our brother Muslims believes that they are Filipinos because of their personal interest and perches they have enjoyed in the government. We will treat them as enemies and traitors to the cause of the Bangsamoro and Islam.

Zulfikar: What is the role of your group in this war between MILF and government forces?

Pusa: Our role is to help the MILF freedom fighters with all the means available in our group. We are prepared to die in this war as martyrs rather than seeing our people suffering from the oppressive of the Ilonggo colon and the military. The MILF forces must face the government troops in the battle field. Our group will fight the government paramilitary groups and NJM spiritual warriors. We are determined to pier down Ilonggo leaders who are members of the NJM like Mar Roxas, Drilon, Raul Gonzales, Mike Arroyo, Lobregat and Pinol brothers! We will give reward with an amount of P300,000.00 and .45 caliber for any one who can kill any of the mentioned Ilonggo leaders. These Ilonggo leaders are real enemies of peace and of the Bangsamoro. We cannot attain freedom and peace in Mindanao unless these Ilonggo leaders of NJM and National leaders such as the likes of Biazon, Lacson, Puno etc. are killed.

Zulfikar: okay, thanks for giving a time to talk to you. What is your parting statement? Will you speak to us your message to our people and the Filipino people?

Pusa: I am calling our people to join in this war for liberation of the Bangsamoro from the tyrannical rule of the Philippine government. The non-signing of MOA-AD is an indication that the government wants war in Mindanao. The arming of the Christian civilians will only mean that the government wants ethnic cleansing in Mindanao. I am appealing to the conscience of the Bangsamoro people and the Bangsamoro leaders to support the MILF liberation war against government forces. We must consolidate our ranks and unite our people in our forward march toward freedom and independence. We must redeem ourselves from the pangs of the oppression of this colonial government the only options left for us is in the VICTORY or MARTYRDOM. Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!