Dulmatin: Remaining elusive

(Penned on January 8, 2008; Published in Zamboanga Today on January 9, 2008.)

One of the most wanted Indonesian terrorists who goes by the name of Dulmatin remains elusive to this day, despite the efforts of the Philippine military in scouring the islands where he is suspected to be in.

Dulmatin, an alleged member of the Jemaah Islamiyah terror group and reported to be the brains behind the 2002 Bali bombing that took 202 lives, is these days believed to be simply shuttling to and fro the Sulu Archipelago and neighboring country Malaysia. While an official of the Malaysian Government had pronounced that elements of the Abu Sayyaf Group have not crossed the borders and entered its territories, specifically Sabah, the possibility that Dulmatin has entered Malaysian territory cannot still be discounted.

Dulmatin, being Malay, speaks Bahasa Indonesia, but understands fully and speaks Bahasa Melayu owing to the intelligibility of the two languages. This rationale is true to the Sama languages (Banguingui, Yakan, Simunul, Pangutaran, Kalibugan, and Bajau) of the Philippines as well.

Dulmatin, in reported unofficial testimonies of community people in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, was allegedly seen with Umar Patek within the vicinity of the identified encampments of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the hilly jungles of Barangay Lakiki, Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte the other year, and even last year. The two, with twenty other non-Filipinos with Malayan features and an English-speaking tongue with a non-Filipino accent, were seen by apprehensive civilians exacting money and provisions from community residents in that part of the province. While this information was shrugged off by the military on the premise that the area is basically MILF territory, it raises further questions on the limits of the Philippine military to penetrate certain areas in the Philippine archipelago.

What exactly is the territorial domain of the Philippine military? Article II, Section 3 of the Philippine Constitution specifically states that, “The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the state. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the state and the integrity of the national territory.” And the same fundamental law in Article I defines the national territory to be “the Philippine Archipelago”. Why then can the military not enter into areas occupied by the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front? A legal principle says that the law may be harsh, but this is the law. With the dialogue on the peace process, it is hoped that these legal provisions would be taken seriously into consideration by representatives of the Philippine Republic.

If indeed Dulmatin and other non-Filipinos supporting transnationalism and other forms of lawlessness to include terrorism, are in country establishing in any part of the Philippines a training ground and berthing place of lawlessness, crime and disorder, then the Philippine military, by virtue of the law, may actually penetrate the area. However, this does not also mean that they can cloak the commission of violations of human rights with this defense. In the same manner, the MILF and the MNLF cannot continue using the dialogue for the peace process as a shield to perpetuate lawlessness. And international and domestic peace organizations, as well as conflict-sensitive groups, should weigh facts, evaluate submitted written reports, before releasing harsh pronouncements especially directed to soldiers on the ground who are but following orders and risking their lives to be at the frontline. After all, they too are concerned Filipinos desiring peace.

In the meantime, Dulmatin lives as a free man. (Frencie L. Carreon)