GRP - MILF agreement on ancestral domain

[taga_ipil]

---

tan-awa ra... wa pa gani nagsugod nag-gubot nasab ang Aleosan...
wa pa jud militar...

murag sakto ang ingon ni Piñol... wala sila madawat na military forces kung mo supporta sila ni Piñol, mao na ang threat ni Esperon.
(according to some people)

[taga_ipil]

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.


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.

"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.

Sun.Star Network Online - Gov't gives MILF 24 hours to leave areas

[taga_ipil]

Tubag ni Eid Kabalu

Friday, August 08, 2008
MILF official denies occupying lands

A MORO Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) official denies occupying some areas in the North Cotabato.

Eid Kabalu, MILF military spokesperson, said the communities along Liguasan Marsh the government refers to are populated by the Maguindanao.

"These are villages also populated by our people. Yes, some of them are armed for self-defense. Hindi nag-aagaw ang MILF ng lupain (The MILF does not occupy lands)," Kabalu told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

He issued the statement after Armed Forces Chief General Alexander Yano gave the MILF a 24-hour deadline to withdraw its forces to move out of several towns in North Cotabato.

Yano said hostilities between the military and the MILF are likely to break out if the rebel group refuses to leave the communities they have "forcibly occupied" since July on or before the government-imposed deadline ends.

But the MILF is holding its ground.

Kabalu said the government is unfair when it only pointed at the MILF as the culprit when hundreds of armed civilian volunteers have massed outside the affected villages in the towns of Aleosan and Midsayap, North Cotabato.

He said these armed civilians are loitering freely and have been seen giving interviews to reporters from Manila.

"These armed civilian volunteers posed the greatest risk, not the MILF," Kabalu said.

The towns of Aleosan and Midsayap are considered the birthplace of the dreaded Ilagas in the 70s conflict between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Often armed and funded by local politicians, these armed civilians were responsible for scores of war crimes including massacres of hundreds of Muslims in nearby towns.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to disarm civilian volunteer organizations particularly in Aleosan town who are moving openly with firearms.

Puno said he directed PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. to send three police battalions to go to the areas occupied by the MILF and enforce the law.

"I would like to remind our local executives that CVOs are not authorized to carry firearms without specific authority of the director general of the PNP," he said.

Peace appeals

As the tension grew in North Cotabato, The Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW), a network of major peace groups and coalitions in Mindanao appeals for sobriety and urged the government and the MILF to desist from committing any act that will lead to the resumption of hostilities.

"Desist from any act that will aggravate the situation and more importantly, observe and ensure enforcement of the ceasefire agreement at all time," the group said in a statement emailed to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

The MPW also made an appeal to journalists to ensure responsible reporting and not to fan the emotions of people affected by the conflict that may lead to further deterioration of the situation in Mindanao.

"We, more than ever appeal to all peace-loving Filipinos to give peace a chance in Mindanao." the group said.

The group also appealed to the MILF to demonstrate its resolve and commitment to peace by reigning in all its combatants and prove that "indeed it is speaking and doing peace not only in the negotiating table but also on the ground."

Deadline

Yano flew to North Cotabato Thursday to personally check security operations in the area as the deadline ends at 10 a.m. Friday.

He is scheduled to arrive here in Camp Evangelista, headquarters of the Army Fourth Infantry Division (4ID), in Barangay Patag, this city to look into the security situation in Northern Mindanao.

Major Mitchel Anayron, 4ID public information officer, said they are under instructions to protect the civilians in case hostilities break out.

Puno, who is also the presidential political adviser, said presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. gave the ultimatum following a meeting of the National Security Council.

"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.

He 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, Puno said.

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.

In the press briefing, Puno said that after the 24-hour period, the government will exhaust all peaceful means to address the situation, but stressed "we feel entitled and authorized to undertake whatever action is necessary."

Puno said a joint police-military task force had been formed to lead the clearing of several barangays in North Cotabato forcibly occupied by alleged members of the MILF and to strictly enforce the law against the unauthorized carrying of firearms in these areas.

[am_believer24]

si arroyo na lang kaha ug si esperon ang papuy-on ngadto?

[taga_ipil]

those bloody bastard...

modz is it okay to merge this thead with this:
https://www.istorya.net/forums/politi...al-domain.html

Thanks

[moz_k2]

Ayay mag countdown napud ta ani.
Grabe 24 hours ra jud...

Na remember nako kay Saddam before nga 48 hours ang gihatag ni Bush.

More power to the AFP.

[godsaint]

kabuangan na ni!Nganong mag cge man hatag pabor ang atong gobyerno aning mga bandidong MILF?Sa ako lang gani na obserbahan, kining mga Muslim brothers nato murag papansin gyud ni sila. Sa election pa lang daan nila kinahanglan special election,automated ug gwardyado pa.Govt. should be firm in dealing with these people. MILF mga bandido dili dapat tagaan pabor.

[godsaint]

Fresh hostilities between AFP, MILF erupt in NCotabato

MANILA, Philippines - A predawn firefight between security forces and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels erupted in North Cotabato hours before the lapse of the government's 24-hour deadline for the secessionist group to vacate certain areas in the province, military reports said.

Citing field reports, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said about 5 a.m., the Baliki detachment in Midsayap town was harassed by an undetermined number of MILF fighters headed by an unknown commander.

An ensuing firefight lasted for nearly two hours although there were no reported casualties on both sides, Brawner said.

A military intelligence report said about 6:30 a.m., one round of 81-mm mortar was fired by MILF elements toward the detachment.

In a report on dzBB radio, GMA's Jun Veneracion quoted 40th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Diosdado Carreon as saying that the military fired 10 rounds of mortar against MILF positions in the area after secessionist rebels attacked the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) detachment in Brgy. Baliki.

“Inengage daw ng mga miyembro ng MILF itong CAFGU detachment sa Brgy. Baligi dito sa North Cotabato kaya ang naging ganti nitong 40th Infantry Battalion ng Philippine Army, e nag-aadvance na nga dito sa lugar, e nagpakawala ng mortar fire, mga 10 na itong sunod sunod," Veneracion said in the report.

Veneracion quoted Carreon as saying that the military is currently waiting for the go-signal from the headquarters to barge into the MILF area.

“Sinasabi nitong si Lt. Col. Diosdado Carreon, ang battalion commander ng 14th Infantry Battalion, ay pag-lapse ang deadline na yon, ang gagawin nila, mag-a-advance sila, papasukin na nila yung position ng MILF, kung ayaw nilang umalis e mapipilitan silang i-engage," Veneracion said.

“Ang sinasabi nitong si Col. Carreon ay naghihintay sila ng go signal sa headquarters para pasukin na itong lugar at iclear ang MILF na nagiintrude daw dito sa civilian population sa paligid," he added, saying Carreon estimated the MILF rebels in the area to be around 300-400, “fully armed," and “well-equipped."

Also on Friday, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police said that despite its agreement to reposition its forces in North Cotabato, the MILF continued to beef up its troops in the province with reinforcements from nearby Maguindanao.

In an interview on dzBB, ARMM police director Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao expressed concern over the monitored troop movement on the part of the MILF, saying this is contrary to the MILF's earlier declaration that it is acceding to the government's earlier demand for rebel troops to leave certain areas in North Cotabato.

Goltiao said the MILF troop movement is particularly a "cause of concern" for police in the ARMM, given ongoing preparations for elections there on August 11.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu confirmed the arrival of additional troops to North Cotabato from Maguindanao, but said this is not a large-scale reinforcement.

Kabalu said these reported movement of MILF troops to North Cotabato is the result of the hostilities in Aleosan town, which started last July 1 when soldiers from the 40th Infantry Battalion and civilian volunteers attacked MILF positions in the area.

"Hindi ito large-scale reinforcement. Ang nangyari kasi, yung relatives ng MILF elements na nasa North Cotabato , when they learned na yung relatives nila ay under attack ay pumunta sila para tumulong... Hindi naman natin itinatanggi ito," Kabalu said

Traydor gyud ni sila.

[uzumaki]

IMHO bsan pa matoman ang mga binding condition para sa MILF wla ghapon kalinaw kay as always mag create lage ni cla og mga break away group para mao napod tagdon sa goverment...

[weeker]

tsk tsk...
hope this will be settled right away and in a peaceful manner...