Datu Dima Ambel, who chairs the MNLF Sebangan Kutawato Revolutionary Committee said the purported recruitment of people by the Bangsamoro Economic Development and Governance (BEDGo) in exchange for sums of money is not sanctioned by the MNLF.
He added that a number of Muslims in his area have been recruited by avid personnel of BEDGo.
Ambel admitted that some top officials of BEDGo were former members of the MNLF.
Reports said that recuits are promised good pay and good positions in some business enterprises in the event that the promised billions of dollars for Mindanao development are remitted from overseas, principally from Islamic countries.
One of the BEDGo officers was a certain Dominador Apostol, who admitted he was once a former representative of the Christian sector to the MNLF but left the organization due to some policy disagreements.
Salik Buhisan, a Maguindanaon, is BEDGo’s national chairman and holds office in Davao City. Datu Dima Ambel happens to know who Buhisan is and said the guy is a "good person".
He has this to say to Buhisan: "I know you’re a good guy. But please, don’t do something which would destroy your good name."
Ambel said that BEDGO’s recruitment is "dubious and was surprised why many people are still lured to join the organization even if they knew these were all lies."
"Don’t be fooled. There would be no crooks if nobody would believe in their lies," he stressed.
Meantime, Kidapawan City Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco denied reports that he once joined the general assembly of BEDGo officials sometime August this year.
"I don’t remember having been invited to join in one of their gatherings. What I only remember was talking to people that were recruited to join BEDGo. I got the surprise of my life when I knew that they joined the organization," he said.
Gantuangco said that most of these recruits were government employees, including school principals and teachers.
The Bangsamoro Economic Development Council (BEDCo), records showed, was established in early ‘80s.
It was registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as non-stock, non-profit organization in early 90s.
