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Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Moro group to help hunt terrorists in city
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has fielded its men in Davao City to help hunt terrorists who are reportedly out to disrupt the nine-day Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) that will start on Friday.
In an interview Monday, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said they are now assisting the government in securing the city from terrorist threats.
Kabalu said they are not directly participating in ATF security but their men are in the city to help in any way they can.
Kabalu said their participation in the ATF is a "special arrangement with the government" in line with their commitment to help achieve peace in Mindanao.
Earlier, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said terrorists were already in the city to disrupt the holding of the ATF.
At least 2,500 foreign delegates are expected to arrive in the city for the forum.
Duterte said the terrorist threat is imminent and it is his duty to inform the public about it.
He said keeping the real score from the public would do no good at all. "It might be good for business but not good for public interest," he added.
Several officials of the ATF local host council reacted strongly to the mayor's revelation.
"Eh totoo naman talaga ang threat (The threat is real). Terrorism will always be here. Not just in Davao City but in the rest of the world. There's no use in dwelling on the matter," he stressed.
Duterte said it is for this reason that they sought the deployment of more forces to secure the city and ATF delegates. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(January 10, 2006 issue)
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