"These are villages also populated by our people. Yes, some of them are armed for self-defense. Hindi nag-aagaw ang MILF ng lupain (The MILF does not occupy lands)," Kabalu told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
He issued the statement after Armed Forces Chief General Alexander Yano gave the MILF a 24-hour deadline to withdraw its forces to move out of several towns in North Cotabato.
Yano said hostilities between the military and the MILF are likely to break out if the rebel group refuses to leave the communities they have "forcibly occupied" since July on or before the government-imposed deadline ends.
But the MILF is holding its ground.
Kabalu said the government is unfair when it only pointed at the MILF as the culprit when hundreds of armed civilian volunteers have massed outside the affected villages in the towns of Aleosan and Midsayap, North Cotabato.
He said these armed civilians are loitering freely and have been seen giving interviews to reporters from Manila.
"These armed civilian volunteers posed the greatest risk, not the MILF," Kabalu said.
The towns of Aleosan and Midsayap are considered the birthplace of the dreaded Ilagas in the 70s conflict between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Often armed and funded by local politicians, these armed civilians were responsible for scores of war crimes including massacres of hundreds of Muslims in nearby towns.
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to disarm civilian volunteer organizations particularly in Aleosan town who are moving openly with firearms.
Puno said he directed PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. to send three police battalions to go to the areas occupied by the MILF and enforce the law.
"I would like to remind our local executives that CVOs are not authorized to carry firearms without specific authority of the director general of the PNP," he said.
Peace appeals
As the tension grew in North Cotabato, The Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW), a network of major peace groups and coalitions in Mindanao appeals for sobriety and urged the government and the MILF to desist from committing any act that will lead to the resumption of hostilities.
"Desist from any act that will aggravate the situation and more importantly, observe and ensure enforcement of the ceasefire agreement at all time," the group said in a statement emailed to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
The MPW also made an appeal to journalists to ensure responsible reporting and not to fan the emotions of people affected by the conflict that may lead to further deterioration of the situation in Mindanao.
"We, more than ever appeal to all peace-loving Filipinos to give peace a chance in Mindanao." the group said.
The group also appealed to the MILF to demonstrate its resolve and commitment to peace by reigning in all its combatants and prove that "indeed it is speaking and doing peace not only in the negotiating table but also on the ground."
Deadline
Yano flew to North Cotabato Thursday to personally check security operations in the area as the deadline ends at 10 a.m. Friday.
He is scheduled to arrive here in Camp Evangelista, headquarters of the Army Fourth Infantry Division (4ID), in Barangay Patag, this city to look into the security situation in Northern Mindanao.
Major Mitchel Anayron, 4ID public information officer, said they are under instructions to protect the civilians in case hostilities break out.
Puno, who is also the presidential political adviser, said presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. gave the ultimatum following a meeting of the National Security Council.
"After a meeting last night of the National Security Council, our peace adviser has informed the International Monitoring Team and the combined committee on the cessation of hostilities that we are giving those individuals that have forcibly occupied these areas 24 hours to vacate," he said.
He said at least 6,547 residents from Midsayap, Aleosan, Pigkawayan and Northern Kabuntalan have already been displaced by the MILF.
The areas allegedly occupied by the MILF include five towns and nine barangays, Puno said.
These are located mostly in North Cotabato, and include villages in the municipalities of Aleosan, Libungan, and Midsayap.
MILF attacks were also reported in the towns of Pigkawayan and Northern Kabuntalan.
In the press briefing, Puno said that after the 24-hour period, the government will exhaust all peaceful means to address the situation, but stressed "we feel entitled and authorized to undertake whatever action is necessary."
Puno said a joint police-military task force had been formed to lead the clearing of several barangays in North Cotabato forcibly occupied by alleged members of the MILF and to strictly enforce the law against the unauthorized carrying of firearms in these areas.
