Thursday, September 11, 2008 Public’s help sought for arrest of 3 MILF commanders By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre
LINGAYEN -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is seeking the cooperation of the citizenry for the immediate arrest of three Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders responsible for the violence in the provinces of Lanao and North Cotabato.
Earlier, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) increased the reward it offered for the arrest of MILF commanders Abdurahman Macapaar alias Kumander Bravo and Ameril Umbra Kato to P10 million each; and P5 million for the arrest of another MILF commander Aleem Sulaiman Pangalian.
Director Leopoldo Bataoil, chief of the Police Community Relations Group (PCRG), asked peace-loving people “to get out of their way and monitor, track down and report without delay the whereabouts of the suspects.”
Bataoil said they can use or send information to the PNP’s text message service through this format: PNP (space) message and send it to 2920.
“I have alerted the PCRG staff who are manning the text message center to be very vigilant, be alert on information that will be fed to the system so that the correct handling, the immediate handling will be undertaken by concerned units,” he stated.
He assured that the identity of the sender of the information will be kept confidential.
“We have a system of securing the identity and ensuring the safety of the informant… The texter will be given the reward in a proper manner and forum by DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno or PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr.,” he remarked.
Bataoil said there are 147 cases filed against the MILF renegades to date. Of which, 45 cases were filed in Lanao del Norte, 101 were filed in North Cotabato, and one case filed in Cotabato City.
These cases are broken down as follows: murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder, arson, robbery in band, kidnapping, serious illegal detention, abduction, malicious mischief, and robbery with violence and intimidation of person.
He further said two warrants of arrest were issued against Bravo and his men.
The case has also been filed against Kato and his men for the kidnapping of Dr. Milagros Yap in Cotabato City.
“This is a showcase of law enforcement at its best,” he said.
The number of displaced families to date, he said, is more than 230,000.
Because of the recent incident where a truck load of relief goods was intercepted by the MILF rebels, Bataoil said Razon has issued an instruction for all non-government organizations or donors conducting relief operations and medical missions at the affected areas to coordinate with the local police force.
Those who would like to donate in cash and in kind, Bataoil should go to a designated action officer at the PCRG who is in-charge of coordinating donations and delivering relief goods.
Bataoil said he has been personally supervising the PCRG activities at the evacuation centers and other areas in the conflict-stricken part of Mindanao.
As to the policemen on the ground, Bataoil admitted that they are in a very stressful situation with so much risk involved.
