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GENERAL SANTOS CITY: Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has assured
Wednesday that the GRP-Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF)
peace process is still on despite of sporadic clashes in Central
Mindanao and proliferation of text messages concerning impending
rebel attacks.
“We remain on the right track with regards to
the peace process,” Teodoro said, though he admitted the peace
solution is moving at a snail pace.
In his first visit to the Army 1002nd Brigade in
Pulatana, Malungon, Sarangani, Teodoro released a stern order for
soldiers to observe the peace negotiation but should always
“protect the people from attacks and to come to their defense when
necessary, for the advantage of peace and country.”
“The peace process has not totally lost
its direction, as we have every reason to support it,” Teodoro
said in a military briefing but he did not discourage the deployment
of troops in some suspected MILF and New People’s Army (NPA) lairs
in the region.
Col. Gaudencio Pangilinan, commanding officer of
the Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade, said troop deployment will
discourage the NPA’s and MILF in launching offensives specifically
in Maitum, Sarangani, where last week’s atrocities have resulted
in the death of a civilian volunteer, wounding of two soldiers and
unaccounted casualties in the part of the MILF.
Reports said both military and police have
intensified their watch following reports that communist rebels have
stepped up their attacks on government targets in Southern Mindanao
by reviving their “death squads” that are tasked to execute
military, police and government personnel.
Pangilinan also bared the active participation
of some “governors and mayors” with the MILF and other Muslim
terror groups movement in the area. “We have identified specific
areas where we need to maintain active posture if only to assure our
citizens safety,” said Pangalinan without identifying the said
public officials.
He also downplayed the circulation of text
messages about the impending attacks and bombings saying, “these
are all part of the psychological warfare” of the MILF and the
CPP-NPA in order to sow confusion and throw citizens into panic and
disrupt commerce.
“We ask the public to report the presence of
any armed groups even if they are in uniform. Communist rebels move
around wearing military uniforms,” Pangilinan said, as he likewise
encouraged the community to report immediately illegal activities
and misbehavior of soldiers.
-- Isagani Palma
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