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Thursday, March 04, 2004
Marines remain near Buliok after pullout
AFP says Marine headquarter still a stone's throw away from Buliok complex
AFTER they were pulled out from the sprawling Buliok complex in Maguindanao, the Philippine Marines remain within the vicinity of the former stronghold of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and could come in anytime they are needed.
This was the assurance made by Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Daniel Lucero in an interview Wednesday.
Lucero said Marine forces are just a stone's throw away from the Islamic complex.
Lucero said the Marine Battalion pulled out from the Buliok complex in Pagalungan, Maguindanao side was transferred to nearby Barangay Buliok in Pikit, North Cotabato, a few hundred meters away.
The two areas are separated by the Pulangui River.
The Marines were pulled out of the area after the MILF demanded for the Islamic center situated inside the Buliok complex in Pagalungan be free from any military soldiers.
The Islamic center used to be the residence of the late MILF chief Hashim Salamat.
But Major Gen. Generoso Senga, chief of the Army's 6th Infantry Division based in Awang, Maguindanao, said despite the pull out of Marine troops from Buliok
Pagalungan, they will still be enforcing law and order in the area as mandated.
It was learned that a company from the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police will take over in maintaining peace and order in the Islamic center in Buliok Pagalungan.
The entry of SAF in Buliok was made to reach a win-win solution to the problem in Buliok complex.
North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Pinol earlier warned that he will resign from his post if the Arroyo administration pulls out Marine troopers in the former MILF stronghold.
The MILF, on the other hand, warned that peace negotiations will not push through unless Marines are pulled out from Buliok. BOT
(March 4, 2004 issue)
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