MikeLigalig.com

Published on Mar 06, 2013
9:24 AM





Thousands of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members displaying their weapons during a rally on the volatile island of Jolo in southern Philippines. According to one of their leaders, some of the battle-hardened Muslim guerrillas have sailed from the Philippines to reinforce followers of a self-proclaimed Filipino sultan who are battling Malaysian forces in the Malaysian state of Sabah. -- PHOTO: AP

MANILA (AFP) - Battle-hardened Muslim guerrillas have sailed from the Philippines to reinforce followers of a self-proclaimed Filipino sultan who are battling Malaysian forces, one of their leaders said on Wednesday.

The fighters are veteran members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who waged a decades-long insurgency against the Philippine government before signing a 1996 peace pact, Muhajab Hashim told AFP.

"Many have slipped through the security forces. They know the area like the back of their hands because they trained there in the past," Mr Hashim told AFP.

"We are expecting more of them to join (the fighting) even if our official instruction is for them to refrain from going."

The Malaysian Government should have heeded the requests from Manila to practice restraint. By acting aggressively, Kuala Lumpur has opened Pandora's Box.