Friday, June 13, 2008 MILF war-ready: Kabalu By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE military spokesman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) admitted Thursday that their organization is preparing for any eventualities like war.
Eid Kabalu, however, said preparing for a war is "built-in their organization." He did not explain further.
North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Piñol earlier said the Muslim secessionist group is now preparing for war as relayed to him by his reliable source.
Piñol said the MILF has begun storing stocks of food for a protracted war in the coming months. He said the MILF is certain the peace talks in Mindanao will collapse completely.
"Not only is the MILF preparing for food; they are also preparing their men for the battle," he said.
Task Force General Santos chief Colonel Benito de Leon, meanwhile, said they are presently assessing the report as he refused to give any details of their security measures. He said their hopes that the peace negotiations between the MILF and the government would continue are still high though.
Former Task Force Davao chief Colonel Gaudencio Pangilinan was simply mum when informed of Piñol's revelation.
According to Piñol, the report created fear among residents of North Cotabato.
"If it's true, then it would affect not only us here in the province but also in other areas in Mindanao," Piñol said during the opening of the regular session of the Cotabato Provincial Board on Tuesday.
Piñol urged both the government and the MILF panels to return to the negotiating table to prevent the eruption of war in Mindanao.
Piñol is a known critic of the MILF before but had made friends later with Eid Kabalu.
