[Arab News]The leader of a Muslim insurgent group said it welcomes the continued presence of US forces in Mindanao to help the Philippine government in its campaign against violent extremist groups.Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim acknowledged the help being extended by the Americans to communities in the region. He said, "As long as they don’t do anything that creates a problem for our people, we don’t mind them."
Asked if he is aware of the activities of US forces in Mindanao, he said they are monitoring ISIS and engaged in humanitarian and civic assistance projects. US forces are “quite visible” in the island provinces of Mindanao and “we don’t oppose” their presence, but they cannot intervene in government policy, Ebrahim said.
On Sept. 1, 2017, US Defense Secretary James Mattis designated Operation Pacific Eagle-Philippines (OPE-P) an Overseas Contingency Operation (OCO) “to support the Philippine government and military in their efforts to isolate, degrade and defeat” affiliates of ISIS and other terrorist groups in the country.
Philippine defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said US military activities in the country under OPE-P involve advising and providing technical assistance to the Philippine miliatary. He said, "There are no boots on the ground."
Ebrahim said while there is no accurate number of foreign terrorists or ISIS-inspired militants coming to Mindanao, Indonesian, Malaysian “and even Middle Eastern-looking” militants joined the five-month siege of Marawi. There are confirmed reports of the continued entry of Malaysians and Indonesians, and an Arab-looking militant who was found to be using a Canadian passport, he added.
“Usually these elements mix with the Abu Sayyaf in island provinces, and some are blending in with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters,” Ebrahim said. “We’re closely motoring them because we really don’t agree with their activities.”
Those being recruited by ISIS-inspired groups are not part of the MILF, whose leadership remains in control of its members, he added. Those recruits are easily convinced “by certain elements who capitalize on their frustration with the peace process with the government,” he said.
The MILF is the only armed Islamic organization in the region whose objective is political, Ebrahim said. He said, "That’s why I think we vary from other Islamic organizations. We were never declared a terrorist organization. Islam is only a way of trying to unite our people and to practice our own faith in the proper manner. That’s what makes the MILF different from other Islamic or revolutionary groups."