Saturday, April 12, 2008 MILF hits move to arm civilians in mining firm
THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) criticized the decision of the government to arm civilians in a mining firm in Tampakan, South Cotabato that was attacked by rebels a few months back.
In a report by www.luwaran.com, the Moro front claimed that Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno approved the request of Sagittarius Mines, Inc. to train local civilians and make them members of the Civilian Volunteers Organization (CVO).
The MILF warned that such a move would trigger more violence.
Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of the Diocese of Marbel reportedly expressed his opposition to the government action as well, saying that more arms would mean more violence.
"I see violence in the future with many people bearing firearms. The training of civilians (to become members of the CVO) is not a very good prospect. We are becoming violent," the bishop was quoted as saying.
The report said the DILG is training villagers to become CVO members in at least three villages of Tampakan, namely Tablu, Danlag and Pulabato. These villages are within the mines development site.
Sixty civilians are reportedly being trained in each of the identified villages in Tampakan town and another 60 in Barangay Bong Mal in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur, or a total of 240 CVOs.
Last month, Sagittarius hired the services of Catena Security Inc., an affiliate of England-based Group 4 Securicor, one of the world's leading security firms.
It also announced that more than 100 security guards will be employed to secure the personnel and facilities of the firm, which the NPA attacked last New Year's Day. The NPA burned buildings worth at least P12 million.
Sagittarius however allegedly denied being behind the move to train civilians for security purposes. It was learned that the move was initiated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and is not just happening in Tampakan but in other parts of the country where there are mining interests. (BOT)
