Monday, October 09, 2006 Moro militants on 'standby' if talks collapse
THE local leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it is only awaiting orders from its hierarchy on whether or not to launch an attack in the Lanao provinces.
In a radio interview, MILF officer Kumander Bravo said while their command is hopeful that the peace talks will resume their organization will not be caught unprepared.
"From a force of 5,000 fighters we already have 25,000 spread over the two Lanao provinces," Bravo said during the radio interview.
Bravo's statements came even as the Fourth Infantry Division (4th ID) said it has drawn up its own contingency plans in the event of an MILF attack.
"We also have our own counter plan against them," Fourth ID spokesman Major Samuel Sagun said in an interview, even as he reiterated the military's hopes that the peace talks will resume in earnest.
Last week the Philippine Marines based in Tubod, Lanao del Norte said there is no truth to rumors that Moro rebels will attack at least two coastal towns in this province.
Colonel Antonieto Ga, Philippine Marines Battalion commander here said the rumored attack came after the peace talks stopped its discussions on the Ancestral Domain issue.
Untrue
Bravo said their forces are still on standby following the stalemate over the talks. While not insinuating on any attack, he confirmed that they have been making preparations should the talks eventually collapse.
He said, "they are ready" to launch attacks on various military detachments in Lanao as well as bombings on government installations.
For his part Sagun said they won't allow these attacks to prosper and explained that while they are saddened by Bravo's statements they are prepared for any operation by the MILF.
He said the military remains concerned over the effects of the MILF attacks on the civilian populace.
"We're still hoping nga mabalik ang peace talks ug dunay makab-ot nga (that the peace talks resume and both sides would reach an) agreement," Sagun said.
Meanwhile Ga said reports of an MILF attack on Lanao province are untrue and that the Philippine Marines remain vigilant for any eventuality.
He said even if the peace talks got stalled, there have been no violations on the ceasefire agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Stalled
For his part, Provincial Police Director Linog Bagul said the province of Lanao del Norte remains peaceful but alert.
Earlier the peace panel together with the International Monitoring Team (IMT), assured the mayor and other government officials in Iligan City there is no reason that the peace panels will not return to the negotiating table.
During their courtesy call to Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz, Head of Mission of the International Monitoring Team Major General Dato Md Ismael bin Ahmad Khan, assured the local executive of support so that the stalled peace negotiations can continue.
The recent round of GRP-MILF peace talks in Malaysia was stalled over discussions on the Ancestral Domain issue.
Following the stalled peace negotiations, people in Mindanao became apprehensive that hostilities would erupt anew between government forces and the Moro rebels.
However, the GRP-MILF CCCH and the IMT made their rounds in the cities of Iligan, Marawi and in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur to assure that the ceasefire continues to be in place and this is being monitored. (Stephen Capillas/With a report from Annabelle Ricalde of Sun.Star Superbalita/Lino dela Cruz)
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