Breaking: Islamist Rebel Group Claims Responsibility in Failed Bombing on US Base in Philippines

Breaking: Islamist Rebel Group Claims Responsibility in Failed Bombing on US Base in Philippines

Financial Times

Alex Billaud

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Philippines’ largest islamist guerrilla, claimed today its responsibility on the attempted bombing of Subic Bay Naval Base.

In a brief online statement, the rebel group declared that the attack “is only the beginning of an endless series of victories”. MILF seems to be reorienting its actions to “put an end to continuous American imperialist aggression in the Philippines and their oppressive puppets of Manila”. Additionally, the group denounces an article of American satirical website The Onion ridiculing the militant group, calling it “a filthy provocation requiring retaliation”. It is unknown if the group was aware of the satirical nature of the website.

Such rapid evolutions surprised many Philippines observers, as in recent years the MILF had been looking for appeasement with the government. Last year, an agreement was reached in which the group agreed to cease fighting, in exchange for an enhanced autonomy of the Muslim region.

A peace treaty would end a four-decades long conflict that costed 120,000 lives. On January 25, however, a joint US-Philippines operation targeting high-profile terrorists turned violent, with the Filipino security forces losing 44 men, and MILF and its extremist allies losing more than two dozens. The shooting sparked rage in Filipino public opinion, effectively challenging the peace agreement.

Reacting to the attempted bombing, John B. Rivera, Roosevelt Chair of Conflict Resolution at the University of Philippines, called it “a fatal knock-out at the peace process”. “MILF claiming responsibility in a failed attack”, Pr Rivera added, “is the beginning of a lasting violent campaign against US presence in the Philippines”.