MANILA, January 25, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – Muslim human rights groups have launched a scathing attack on Philippine President Gloria Arroyo's anti-terror policies and are now pressing for the release of a religious teacher who was detained by the Philippine police last week on terrorism charges.

Kawagib, a Moro human rights organization based in Mindanao's Cotabato City, condemned the arrest of ustaz (teacher) Abdulmaguid Esmael Pagao on January 17, claiming Arroyo's "anti-terror" policy "victimized another ustaz [religious teacher]."

Sittie Rajabia Sundang, Kawagib spokesperson, told IslamOnline.net Tuesday, January 24, Pagao's arrest "confirms our suspicion that despite of the ongoing peace talks between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Philippine government, the terror tag against the MILF is still present and used as justification for the arrests of MILF members and sympathizers."

Pagao, 52, who was educated in Libya and is a teacher in a local Islamic school, was arrested on his way to his hometown in Buluan town, Maguindanao province together with his daughter Johaira Esmael.

Pagao, a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and company were riding in a Asian utility vehicle when another car suddenly bumped them. Six policemen in plain clothes quickly alighted out of the vehicle and immediately sought out Pagao.

Pagao was whisked to the airport. The arresting police officers showed to him a warrant of arrest and asked him question if he had been to places like Basilan and Sulu provinces. A few hours later he was taken the capital, Manila.

He was implicated to have had a hand in five coordinated bombings in Manila in December 2000 that killed 22 people and wounded more than 100. Pagao is now facing charges of multiple murders and multiple frustrated murders, along with two Abu Sayyaf leaders.

Kawagib, along with Moro Christian Peoples' Alliance and Suara Bangsamoro, another human rights and political groups, believe that the arrest was to better the image of the Arroyo government's anti-terror's campaign, particularly that a military exercise is currently being undertaken by American and Filipino troops in
Mindanao.

But Suara Bangsamoro leader Amirah Ali Lidasan told IslamOnline.net Tuesday they would continue to press the discharge of the religious leader from detention by holding another protest rally akin to what they held a day after the arrest which some 10,000 attended.

On the other hand, the wanton and arbitrary tagging of Filipino Muslims, said Sundang, "legitimized the illegal arrests, warrantless arrests, indiscriminate firings and bombings in Mindanao."

She said that the policy has been victimizing thousands of Bangsamoro in this Southeast Asian state, particularly more than 500 Moro men from the provinces of Basilan, Zamboanga and Sulu.

A hundred of these men are still languishing in jail at Camp Bagong Diwa in Manila, while more than 20 of them have been released due to lack of evidence.

Twenty-six inmates died at the hands of the PNP and BJMP officers who attacked the prison cells to subdue an alleged Abu Sayyaf attempted jailbreak.
Sundang said since Arroyo's first year presidency in 2001, their group was able to document 112 cases of illegal and warrantless arrests although there is an ongoing peace talks between MILF and the Philippine government.

At present, the RP-US joint military exercise in Camp Lucero, Carmen North started last January 17.

The International Monitoring Team tasked by the Organization of Islamic Conference to monitor the progress of the peace process between the Philippines and MILF, and their adherence to the cease-fire paid Pagao a visit Tuesday.