Saturday, October 11, 2008 Military sets blocking forces in Lanao By Bong Garcia
THE military has sealed all entry points to the Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur provinces to block Moro rebels from reinforcing comrades as government offensives continue.
Lieutenant Colonel Rey Ardo, chief of the Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade, said his men were deployed in strategic areas of the two Lanao provinces to watch out for Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rouge members.
Troops are continuously scouring the hinterlands of the two provinces in search for Abdulrahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo and his men and supporters.
The search is in line with law enforcement operations against the group of Bravo following its simultaneous attacks last August in four Lanao del Norte towns.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) data showed that the attacks in Lanao del Norte have caused the displacement of 35,985 families, with 157,920 dependents.
The displaced families sought shelter in 10 other towns of Lanao del Norte and in the neighboring city of Iligan.
Ardo said the military troops are not at war in Lanao although soldiers could be seen everywhere in the province.
"The soldiers are only carrying out law enforcement operations against the rouge MILF rebels because they committed crimes," said Ardo.
Government troops are also pursuing the group of Ameril Umbra Kato alias Commander Kato in nearby North Cotabato province.
Kato and his men have occupied several areas in North Cotabato, causing displacements of innocent civilians.
