Wednesday, October 15, 2003
TFD prepared for attacks by '3rd force': Pangilinan
By Gwen P. Posadas
"NO MATTER what force, we are ready to face."
This was the reaction of Col. Gaudencio Pangilinan, Task Force Davao (TFD) chief, to reports that a "Third Force", outside regular rebel groups, will stage more attacks in Mindanao.
Earlier last week, Moro groups who staged a rally in Marawi City said the "Third Force" plans to target more cities in Mindanao before the year ends.
President Arroyo tagged the "Third Force" as behind the bombings of Muslim mosques in Davao City six months ago.
Datu Lacs Dalidig, rally organizer and chair of the Muslim Multisectoral Movement for Peace and Development, said the "saboteur" group, as Arroyo labeled them, is bent on destroying whatever gains the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government has reached in the peace negotiations.
"Now that there is an ongoing ceasefire and there are also some secret agreements with the MILF and the government to really pursue peace talks, this Third Force will intensify their efforts," Daligdig said.
The alleged attacks from the third force, believed to be a separatist group of MILF or a group created from the MILF, was reported several days before the coming of US President George W. Bush on October 18.
"That's the reason why the Task Force is here, kahit anong alert level yan, the troop is always there to respond," Pangilinan said adding that their troops are responding within 11 minutes. However, they are striving to the respond to calls for assistance within 10.5 minutes.
"Kung totoo man yan (alleged more attacks from the third force) it could be their own creation (MILF). But with or without that we are prepared.
Because kami naman dito (TFD) works under the premise that Davao is the primary target of terrorist," Maj. Roseller Murillo, TFD deputy officer said Sunday.
Murillo said that they will make sure that their anti-terrorism campaign would not be their effort alone but with the community.
Maj, Orlando Suarez, TFD executive officer, said whoever this third force is, no military personalities are behind the group.
"I don't believe that the military is behind this because the third force is to sabotage (peace process between the MILF and the government), at kung sino man sila we are ready here in Davao City," he said.
The Magdalo group, who staged a mutiny in Makati City on July 27, alleged that there are high-ranking military officials behind the bombing of mosques in Davao City.
(October 15, 2003 issue)
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