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The Philippine military on Tuesday denied allegations made by a
Mindanao based group regarding the imposition of a flood blockade in
Maguindanao and the United Nation has already cleared the
institution of any wrongdoings.
According to Army’s 6th Infantry Division
spokesman Jonathan Ponce government forces in the area does not
impose food blockade or control over the relief goods to be
delivered hundreds of internally displaced person in the province of
Midnanao.
Civic group Mindanao People’s Caucus has
called on the Commission on Human Rights to look into the complaints
of food blockade being imposed by the military in conflict affected
areas in Datu Piang, Maguindanao where soldiers have been going
after lawless Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander Ameril
Umbra Kato.
An official of the group claimed the military in
the area is the one dictating when and how much relief should come
into the villages where evacuees are temporarily staying.
Ponce maintained that the military is not
involve in such activity, in fact they are also taking part in
making sure that the internally displaced individuals are in good
condition and safe at all times.
Ponce, meanwhile, suspects that the group could
have based its allegation in the incident that happened on May 31,
when military forces stopped a truck carrying more than 200 sacks of
rice.
The military officer said troops in the areas
flag down an Elf Truck carrying 221 sacks of rice, which is part of
the world food program of the United Nations (UN).
They suspect that the driver tried to illegally
transport the rice that is originally intended for IDPs.
The 6th ID has already contacted Stephen Andern,
the country director and representative of the UN world food program
in the Philippines to clear the issue and denied the food blockade
accusation.
-- Jefferson Antiporda
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