Thursday, August 28, 2008 Lawmaker demands probe on Lanao raids
A CONGRESSMAN from Lanao del Norte demanded an explanation from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) as to how the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were able to rampage through three towns without any immediate action from the police and military authorities.
Representative Vicente Belmonte demanded Tuesday for authorities to explain how innocent civilians were killed by Moro rebels in Lanao del Norte "without a single government soldier coming to their rescue."
Belmonte said AFP chief of staff General Alexander Yano and PNP Director General Avelino Razon Jr. have to explain why it took almost six hours before government troops arrived in the province besieged by MILF rebels.
"I don't want to insinuate the idea of possible conspiracy between the Army, police and the MILF on these atrocities done to our people Mr. Speaker but unless the Army and the police explain sufficiently, the lingering thought will remain engrained in the hearts and minds of my people," Belmonte said.
Congress must investigate for possible lapses by government troops, he reportedly said. He narrated that while on his way to the village of Lapayan, he was surprised to see an encampment of about 20 Philippine Army soldiers.
According to Belmonte, he asked the soldiers why they did not defend the civilians and the leader of the troops apparently told him that there were no orders from their superiors to do so.
"I was simply shocked of such a reply, especially from an officer of the government troop. In a situation like this, when people are mercilessly murdered, properties violated right before their very eyes, do the supposed protectors of the people still need order galing sa taas?" he added.
"I can't simply comprehend how the army soldiers remain motionless and unresponsive while seeing the people they are sworn to protect being butchered by the enemies of the state," Belmonte said.
A day after the August 18 raids in Linamon, Kauswagan, and Kolambugan towns by the MILF rebels, residents in the area strongly criticized the military for taking no action while the raid was going on.
"Mas gi-una pa nila ang pagprotekta sa tulay kaysa sa mga tao (They prioritized protecting the bridge than protecting the people)," cried one female resident who refused to give her name.
In an interview at the clash site, Captain Hussein Pakilulla, chief of the Army's 32nd IB Bravo Company, said they were told by their superior officers to protect the bridge that connects Iligan City to Lanao del Norte at all cost.
Pakilulla said that despite the primacy given to the bridge, they also tried to neutralize the MILF rebels but said the raiders were making the civilians their human shields, thus they could do nothing.
As the interview with the captain was ongoing, the female resident kept on shouting at the soldiers, pleading them not to leave their barangay for fear that MILF rebels would return and do more atrocities.
Pakilulla assured the residents that they will not leave the area until they are certain that the rebels are no longer in the vicinity.
He admitted that the rebels are still holed up in the mountainous areas just nearby Libertad. (BOT)
