Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Bizmen: Gov't not doing enough to pre-empt MILF attacks By Carlo P. Mallo
THE business sector in Mindanao believes that the government is not doing enough to pre-empt the atrocities being perpetrated by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) against civilians and business establishments here.
Last Monday, MILF rebels attack some towns in the Lanao provinces and in Sarangani.
"There is nothing better than prevention," said Vicente Lao, chair of the Mindanao Business Council (MBC) during a business forum Tuesday at the Medispa Clinic at SM City Davao.
Although there is no substitute for prevention, Lao said the budgetary constraints of the government that hinders them from effectively preempting attacks of the rebel group must also be taken into consideration.
The MBC chair added that there is a need for the government to aggressively monitor and conduct surveillance, and stringent checkpoints in order to avert the attacks perpetrated by the MILF.
Lao said the reactionary measures being employed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been satisfactorily exercised, so far.
"For the AFP and PNP to be able to neutralize the rebels who attacked the towns in a day, is already good enough," Lao said. "They are able to react immediately."
Lao, however, said MBC has no official statement on the issues surrounding the peace talks between the Philippine government and the MILF. "We are waiting for the ruling of the Supreme Court on the issue," he added.
MBC hosted a forum Monday at the Marco Polo Hotel so that various stakeholders of the business industry can vent out their concerns with the pressing issues on the peace process between the government and the MILF.
Business players coming in as far as Zamboanga City and Cotabato City graced the event.
