COTABATO CITY, Philippines –The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has agreed to reposition its forces in Basilan so that government forces undertaking Oplan Katarungan (Justice) could run after those behind the beheading of 10 of 14 Marines killed in Albarka, Basilan in a July 10 clash.
Von Al-Haq, chairman of the MILF’s ceasefire committee, on Friday said the decision was reached on Wednesday night when he met with his counterpart, Brigadier General Edgardo Gurrea here.
Al-Haq said government chief negotiator retired general Rodolfo Garcia and MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal approved the agreement.
“The International Monitoring Team [IMT] played a direct role in the proposal. IMT chief of mission Major General Dato’ Ismael bin Ahmad Khan personally called Garcia and Iqbal to seek their view on the matter,” Al-Haq said.
It will not be the first time MILF forces vacated their areas due to a military operation.
In August 2005, MILF rebels also left camps Bad’r and Omar Ibni-Khattab in Guindolongan and Talayan in Maguindanao to give way to government troops running after Abu Sayyaf and suspected Jemaah Islamiyah militants.
After the military operations, MILF rebels were allowed to return to their camps.
In Davao City, government and military officials said they will do all they can to prevent the manhunt from compromising the peace talks with the MILF.
But Armed Forces chief General Hermogenes Esperon said the MILF has a lot of explaining to do in connection with the Albarka ambush.
“Something has to be settled like if they [MILF] claim that it is their territory or that it is their so called area of interest, then how come they conducted the ambush? How come they cannot claim responsibility for the beheadings?” he asked.
He also issued an assurance that the incident would not trigger a shooting war with the MILF in Basilan.
“I am not in favor of an all-out war offensive,” he said.
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Calderon said the government has called on local officials for the peaceful surrender of the more than 100 suspects in the Albarka incident.
“That would save a lot of manpower, waste of time and lives,” he said.
|
harharhar!
i guess you mean they are moving the ambushmen and the decapitators around to better hiding places.
harharhar!
i’m glad you folks are around to expose the beginnings of BANGSMOROSTAN.