US embassy cable - 05MANILA2889

S E C R E T MANILA 002889 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
STATE FOR EAP/PMBS, INR/EAP 
NSC FOR GREEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PINS, PREL, MOPS, ID, RP 
SUBJECT: MILF COVERTLY MOVING AGAINST HIGH VALUE TERRORIST 
TARGETS? 
 
REF: MANILA 2785 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Joseph Saus 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (S/NF) Moro Islamic Liberation Front-Ad Hoc Joint Action 
Group (MILF-AHJAG) official (and International Visitor 
Leadership Program nominee) Mike Pasigan (strictly protect) 
told poloff June 24 that the MILF is covertly mobilizing its 
forces in a "non-combat" effort to locate (and hopefully 
capture) suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jemaah 
Islamiyah (JI) key targets in MILF areas.  The operation 
should take place over the next week, and has a 50-percent 
chance of success, according to Pasigan.  Pasigan clarified 
that the operation comes at the direct order of MILF Chairman 
Al Haj Ebrahim Murad and that the action required the "utmost 
secrecy."  Even MILF Base Commanders are out of the loop, due 
to Murad's concern that some continue to hide and/or protect 
these elements, he claimed.  Pasigan said the primary 
motivation for the mission was to demonstrate the importance 
the MILF placed on its stated commitment against terrorism. 
 
2.  (S/NF) Comment.  MILF officials have claimed for months 
that they are willing to take positive steps to move against 
terrorists in their zones, while often simultaneously 
claiming that there are none.  Any true efforts, especially 
successful, will be important in stimulating momentum in the 
peace process and in isolating individual MILF commanders who 
may harbor such terrorists.  We have indicated repeatedly and 
forcefully that the time has long come for the MILF firmly 
and decisively to move against terrorism, and to make the 
choice toward peace and development, with action rather than 
verbiage.  While little in the MILF's track record so far 
justifies much optimism, the faster pace and more 
collaborative tone of the two most recent GRP/MILF 
"exploratory" talks may indicate the possibility of a sea 
change, or at least its beginning. 
BELLARD