Sunday, October 12, 2008 Task force vs MILF formed in Sarangani
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- An inter-agency task force was formed this week in Sarangani province to go after the so-called "Lawless MILF Group" sowing terror in the area.
Called Task Force Makima for the towns of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum, it is composed of the police, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the local government units (LGUs), said task force head Senior Superintendent Danilo P. Peralta, also the police director of Sarangani province.
"It will oversee and coordinate planning efforts, especially tactical operations against rogue Moro rebels, and rehabilitation of affected areas," he said.
MILF fighters have attacked the three towns in the past several months, resulting to fire fights with government security forces and evacuation of thousands of residents, authorities said.
In June, civilians in Maitum were held hostage by MILF rebels who swooped down from Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat. A civilian volunteer was killed by rebels in Barangay Ticulab.
In August, MILF forces killed two innocent civilians, wounded another and ransacked Maasim public market. The rebels also attacked the town hall and police station.
Last Saturday, MILF rebels stormed the coconut plantation owned by the family of Sarangani Vice Governor Steve C. Solon in Kiamba town, and hours later, burned five buildings in another part of the locality.
One of the MILF leaders allegedly involved in Kiamba incident surrendered to authorities on Wednesday. The rebel, identified as Rico Watamama, was said to be an MILF deputy brigade commander. He was wounded in combat.
Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene A. Dominguez pledged to provide the funding for the task force's administrative cost.
A similar initiative, "Task Force Palma-P", was set up in August in North Cotabato after the MILF 105th base command under Ameril Umbra Kato attacked several villages there. The attack was triggered by the Supreme Court's (SC) decision to stop the signing of the controversial memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD).
Palma-P stands for the towns of Pigcawayan, Aleosan, Libungan, Midsayap, Alamada and Pikit.
