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Friday, August 08, 2008
Gov't gives MILF 24 hours to leave areas
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- The National Government on Thursday gave the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) a 24-hour deadline to vacate the areas it has forcibly taken from some settlers in North Cotabato towns the past days.
In a press conference at Camp Crame Thursday, Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the deadline will end at 10 a.m. Friday.
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After the deadline expires, he said the government is deemed to have complied with all the necessary requirements stipulated in the government-MILF ceasefire agreement.
"The government will then undertake whatever is necessary," Puno said.
Puno said presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. gave the ultimatum following a meeting of the National Security Council.
Related story:
MILF official denies occupying lands
"After a meeting last night of the National Security Council, our peace adviser has informed the International Monitoring Team and the combined committee on the cessation of hostilities that we are giving those individuals that have forcibly occupied these areas 24 hours to vacate," he said.
"Otherwise, they shall be forcibly separated from the area. We cannot allow these things to happen. I know that everyone involved in the peace process does not want this to happen," added Puno.
Good faith
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro meanwhile appealed to the MILF to show "good faith" by immediately leaving the areas it forcibly occupied in the towns of Midsayap, Aleosan, Pigcawayan, Libungan, and Northern Kabuntalan.
"We will exhaust all possible means to prevent armed conflict. However, the rule of law must be enforced and upheld," Teodoro said.
At least 6,547 residents from Midsayap, Aleosan, Pigkawayan and Northern Kabuntalan have already been displaced by the MILF.
The areas allegedly occupied by the MILF include five towns and nine barangays, said Puno.
These are located mostly in North Cotabato and include villages in the municipalities of Aleosan, Libungan, and Midsayap. MILF attacks were also reported in the towns of Pigkawayan and Northern Kabuntalan.
The MILF spokesman, Eid Kabalu, however denied that they have taken over several areas in the province.
But according to Puno, they estimate the MILF forces occupying these areas at 800 individuals mostly from the 105th Base Command under Commander Umbra Kato from July 1 to today (Thursday).
"The MILF has initiated atrocities against residents in the area such as burning of houses, destruction of plantations, looting of properties and cattle-rustling among others which forced the civilians to leave the area," he said.
Rule of law
Puno said he already directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to send three police battalions to North Cotabato to enforce the rule of law in the province.
Police forces will also strictly implement the ban on carrying of firearms by civilians, he added.
Puno said they received alarming reports that about 400 civilian volunteers (CVOs) in the province have started arming themselves and patrolling their areas. This is in violation of the law especially so since they have no permits to bring firearms, he said.
According to him, PNP forces will be supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in implementing the rule of law in the province.
A joint police-military task force has been formed to lead the clearing of several barangays in North Cotabato forcibly occupied by MILF rebels, said Puno.
PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr., he added, would send three police battalions to lead in the clearing operations.
He stressed that the ultimatum is for both Muslims and Christians who have violated the law. "We cannot allow lawlessness to come in under the guise of self-defense in the conduct of peace process. We cannot allow that," Puno said.
When asked if the 24-hour ultimatum is some sort of a declaration of war, Teodoro said it is not. He clarified that the ultimatum's objective is limited and that is to bring back the displaced residents to their dispossessed lands.
Once the displaced residents have returned to their homes, Teodoro said the military and police will then stop their operation.
North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol meanwhile welcomed the latest development saying "it's high time for the PNP and especially the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to take action on MILF atrocities."
He said that for more than a month now, residents in some MILF-occupied areas were just being rationed food by the International Monitoring Team and the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities members.
Peace process
Esperon, on the other hand, hoped that the directives issued to clear the barangays would not have a significant impact on the peace process. "We are just upholding the rule of law here and we believe that the MILF is also for the rule of law," he said.
He added that there was a need to enforce the law using all the mechanisms available under an existing ceasefire agreement between the government and the MILF.
At the same time, Puno made it clear that the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the ancestral domain that were initialed by representatives of the government and the MILF in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is now "under embargo."
He said Esperon will be releasing copies of the MOA for submission to both Houses of Congress, so that lawmakers can review aspects of the agreement.
"The submission of the documents to Congress will hopefully end speculations and bring about meaningful discussions about the agreement," Puno said.
"A lot of speculations have surfaced about the MOA. One thing that is sure is that the agreement will not overstep the bounds of the Constitution or any of our existing laws," he added.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, before leaving Thursday morning for a three-day visit to China to attend the 29th Beijing Olympics and other official activities, instructed government officials to monitor closely the developments in Mindanao and ensure the enforcement of the law.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the President wants to assure the Mindanao residents that the government is after their welfare and security against unscrupulous groups, including splinter groups of the MILF, which may want to either sabotage the peace negotiations or take advantage of recent developments in the South to boost their cause. (VR/JMR/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (August 8, 2008 issue)
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