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Sunday, February 10, 2008
GRP, MILF strengthens Balikatan
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The joint Committee on Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) have agreed to maximize coordination and information drive on the conduct of the RP-US Balikatan 2008 in line with the guidelines and principles of the GRP-MILF peace process.
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The agreement is aimed at preventing the occurrence of untoward incidents during the conduct of the 15-day Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) 2008 exercises to be conducted in Central and Western Mindanao, Sulu archipelago, and Palawan.
With the agreement, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)-CCCH chairman Von Al Haq said they would list sufficient information on the conduct of the Balikatan 2008 "so that once and for all we can inform our field commanders."
The information will be provided by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)-CCCH chaired by Brigadier General Reynaldo Sealana, the counterpart of Al Haq in the GRP-MILF peace process.
The agreement was made during the two-day 41st regular meeting of the GRP-MILF-CCCH held Friday and Saturday in this city with Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Alexander Yano as guest speaker.
Al Haq said the MILF have political and military components in areas where the Balikatan 2008 exercises will be conducted.
However, he did not disclose as to how strong and big in numbers are the MILF's political and military components in Central and Western Mindanao, Sulu archipelago, and Palawan.
"Later, may be if you allow me, we'll inform you later with a full information about it," Al Haq told reporters during the press conference Saturday.
He said: "There are number of places, which are places of MILF, where Balikatan 2008 exercises will be implemented."
The US Embassy earlier announced that approximately 600 American troops would participate in the RP-US military exercises dubbed as Balikatan 2008.
It also said 23 humanitarian assistance projects has been lined up to be conducted in the four areas -- Central and Western Mindanao, Sulu archipelago, and Palawan -- since there will be no war games during the Balikatan 2008 in Mindanao or Sulu.
The US will construct and repair schools and other community infrastructures in areas of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago that are in great need of assistance, the US Embassy added.
Majority of US personnel are construction engineers and medical specialists since they will be working side-by-side with their Philippine counterparts who will be in charge of all projects.
During the two-day 41st meeting of the GRP-MILF-CCCH, the two committees vowed to further strengthen collaboration with each other and all the stakeholders, particularly the local government units, in order to significantly complement the forging of a comprehensive solution to the Bangsamoro problem. (Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (February 10, 2008 issue)
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