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Saturday, July 15, 2006
MILF leader turns over rape suspect to police
MALAPATAN, Sarangani -- A local commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) turned over a rape suspect to police authorities Thursday afternoon in a gesture described by a Malaysian military official as a "good sign."
Police said that alleged "notorious rapist" Tony Peralta, 25, has been under custody of MILF leader Kumander Boral in a remote barangay for the past three days.
Peralta, reportedly a half Indonesian, had eluded police authorities since 2001. Malaysia's International Monitoring Team (IMT) commander Colonel Hussein Abdul Razak noted the MILF cooperation with local officials, the military, and the police.
"This is an effective measure of fighting crimes in our area," Razak said. "This (turn over of the suspect) is a good sign of solving crimes. So whoever you are when you commit a crime, you will be arrested."
"When you think of somebody as your enemy, then he will become your enemy. When you want peace, you must instead show brotherhood," Razak added. "When the community and the authorities work together, we can surely find lasting peace in Mindanao.'
Senior Superintendent Efren Valeriano, provincial police director, said police have been hunting Peralta since 2001. The operation to capture the suspect was hastened after another rape incident was reported in Barangay Pangyan, Glan two weeks ago.
Peralta has at least three warrants of arrest issued for rape, attempted rape and homicide allegedly committed in barangays Burias and Pangyan of Glan town.
Brigadier General Alfredo Cayton commended the MILF cooperation and the peace efforts of the community and the local government.
"This is the third time that the MILF has helped us arrest criminals and they were the ones who helped the PNP," said Cayton, chief of the Army's 601st Philippine Army brigade, which has jurisdiction over Sarangani, South Cotabato and Davao del Sur provinces and General Santos City.
"We are moving together as a team and different sectors working in pushing forth peace and solving crimes in Sarangani," Governor Migs Dominguez said after the turn over.
"The success of peace in Sarangani is the consolidated efforts ng lahat ng tao para mapakita nato na there are gains happening in Mindanao and one day, we can finally attain the lasting peace we all dream of," he added.
Boral said it was the first time that the local police coordinated with the local MILF for the capture of the suspect.
Barangay captain Jenin Sambaga said Boral reported to him that the suspect was under his custody. Sambaga was told to contact the police and the military.
"Ayaw namin ng gulo dito kasi masisira ang buhay natin at kawawa ang mga sibilyan," Boral said.
"Nakahanda kaming tumulong sa ating pamahalaan na maparusahan ang sinumang nagkasala. Kung hindi kasi namin gawin ito, baka gagawa pa sya ng mas maraming krimen sa ating lugar," Boral said. Sarangani Info Office
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (July 15, 2006 issue)
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