The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) under Chairman Al-Hadji Murad Ebrahim Sunday took note of the remarkable showing of president-in-waiting Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party in the May 10 polls, and congratulated him for his “near impossible” accomplishment.

In an editorial on Luwaran.net, the MILF cited its hands-off policy on the May 10 local and national elections while at the same time acknowledging the polls’ results.

“The MILF may not have participated in the May 10 national elections, but there are enough good reasons this early to congratulate Senator Noynoy Aquino for heading towards winning the presidency of this country. We cannot see any intervening reason why his dream will not come true,” the editorial said.

“Virtually unknown as presidential timber before he filed his candidacy, Noynoy has proven the skeptics wrong and accomplished what most people said was near to impossible. His recent achievements will be discussed for a long time to come. He deserves the admiration of all!” it added.

The MILF offered a positive assessment of Aquino’s possible policy on the over 13-year peace talks with the government.

It comes from being a son of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino who were said to be friends to the Moros. Both were not anti-Muslims, the group said.

The MILF recalled Ninoy Aquino’s expose of the March 18, 1968, Jabidah Massacre in Congress and Cory Aquino’s offer of 10 provinces to Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding Chairman Nur Misuari for Moro autonomy and provision on Moro and Cordillera autonomy in the 1987 Constitution.

“As a person, Noynoy is surely a good man, but as president, it remains to be seen. A president has to make hard decisions; and to do that requires foresight, resoluteness, and political will. Also one has to weather the pressures of those vested interest groups which solely seek to maintain or control an existing system or activity from which they derive private benefit. Considering all these factors, it takes not just being good to be able to be a successful leader.

“Once elected president, Noynoy will be surrounded by the big business groups, the Catholic Church, the Chinese super-rich elites, the multinational companies, and such political bigwigs like Senator Franklin Drilon and Senator Mar Roxas. All will be jockeying up for favors. In addition, foreign countries’ interests especially of the United States will certainly factor in positively or negatively,” the group said.

The MILF did not forget Aquino’s running mate, Sen. Manuel Roxas II, who is presently locked in a tight battle with leading vice presidential candidate Makati Mayor Jejomar “Jojo” Binay of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

The group is apprehensive about Roxas winning because he is an avid foe of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MoA-AD).

Having aligned with the MoA-AD opponents, the MILF said Roxas “never had shown an iota of concern for Moro interests.”

In a related development, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal expressed hope Noynoy Aquino chooses a peaceful negotiated solution to the Mindanao problem, not war.