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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
MILF to face raps for ‘occupying’ villages
MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is readying charges against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) breakaway group leader Umbra Kato and his men for forcibly occupying 26 barangays in North Cotabato province.
During Tuesday's press briefing in Malacañang, PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. said of the 26 barangays, 14 have already been reclaimed. He hoped that the 12 remaining barangays would be reclaimed within the next 24 hours.
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"We are in process of strengthening our evidence so we could file charges against Kato on the criminal acts he has committed during past few days. We will file charges before the necessary court and we are hoping that a warrant of arrest would be issued," he added.
The PNP chief said investigators are now determining who apart from Kato would be charged.
Razon stressed that they are "not targeting the whole MILF" or the "whole command of Kato."
He said among the possible charges is arson after they burned down some of the houses.
The PNP is also banking on the MILF to help the police in serving the warrants of arrest when it is finally issued by the court after the charges are filed, said Razon.
"I don't think we will have a problem on that, the MILF leadership is in full cooperation with government in bringing about peace in that part of Mindanao," he added.
Razon said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the security Cabinet cluster meeting in Malacañang, expressed satisfaction with the way the military and police handled operations to reclaim the overtaken barangays.
He said the President also ordered concerned agencies to conduct relief operations and to work on bringing back normalcy in these areas especially on health and education soon.
The defense department reported that at least 81,613 persons have already been affected by the illegal occupancy and the skirmishes that ensued.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the International Red Cross is helping in bringing of relief to displaced families, adding that "we are seeing now some stabilizing indicators" with some of the families already starting to return to their homes. (JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (August 13, 2008 issue)
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