by anyajulia | Sep 1, 2008 | Headlines, National News
Malacanang is eyeing the possibility of enlisting the help of United Kingdom through former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Sweden in the peace negotiations with the seccessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made this announcement saying that that the recent attacks by rogue MILF elements in North Cotabato, Saranggani and Lanao del Norte have highlighted the need to seek the assistance of various sectors, including the international community, in ending the decades-old conflict in Mindanao.
She said both Sweden and the United Kingdom, through Blair, have wide experiences in negotiations with rebel groups.
“Actually Tony Blair is willing to come to help us because he played a very strong part in the negotiations with Northern Ireland, while Sweden on the other hand is helping the Philippines in its disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation (DDR) efforts ” the President said.
According to the President, the government and the MILF peace panels should have more consultations, and “authentic dialogues with the people in the communities” in the affected areas.
“These dialogues with the communities will be centered on ending all forms of armed rebellion in the country,” Arroyo stressed.
By talking directly to the people, she said, “we aim to generate a national consensus against armed struggle as a means of achieving political and social change.” (PIA/Bohol)
by anyajulia | Aug 28, 2008 | Headlines, National News
GIPANAWAGAN ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang liderato sa Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sa dali nga pagtahan ngadto sa kagamhanan sa mga rebeldeng sakop kinsa naghimo ug salaud batok sa mga sibilyan sa Mindanao.
Partikular nga gipangayo ni GMA sila si Kumander Umbra Kato, Bravo ug Pangalian aron pa-tubagon sa ilang salaud nga nabuhat.
Ang mensahe sa Presidente ibabaw sa palisiya sa kagamhanan nga dili undangan ang pagsumpay sa proseso sa kalinaw taliwa sa mandu ngadto sa Armadong Kusog ug sa kapolisan nga dili lunga-an ang paghimog operasyon batok sa mga rebelde.
Walay all-out nga giyera, pasabot ni GMA samtang iyang gipahayag nga ang operasyon military tua magtutok sa mga gikatahapang rebelde nga nagpatay sa gatusan ka sibilyan ug nangsunog sa mga kabalayan ug kabtangan. (rachiu/PIA)
by anyajulia | Aug 28, 2008 | Headlines, National News
ABTON sa kagamhanan nga may pagtugot ang Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sa mga salaud sa mga sakop niining nanghasi kon dili itahan ang mga rebeldeng naghimog kadaut sa Mindanao.
Ug kon dili man niini kaya nga itahan, kinahanglang pasagdan una ang militar ug kapolisan sa pagpatuman sa balaod batok ug paglutos niadtong mga malapason.
Kini maoy tubag ni Press Secretary Jesus Dureza sa pahayag ni MILF Chairman Al-Haj Murad nga naghangyo ug paglurang sa opensiba military batok sa mga rebeldeng MILF.
Matud ni Dureza, ang military ug kapolisan dili mo-undang sa ilang operasyon hangtd ang mga nakasala dili mataral sa hukmanan aron manubag sa ilang ti-neroristang buhat. (rachiu/PIA)
by anyajulia | Aug 25, 2008 | Headlines, National News
BOHOL Governor Erico Aumentado refused to comment on Bohol security measures in place against possible spillover attacks from the Mindanao conflict but assured the local authorities are prepared.
At the Governor’s reports Friday, Aumentado, who was asked about Bohol contingency plans on the matter, assured the Provincial Peace and Order Council will meet next week to tackle the issue.
“We have an operational Bohol Local Internal Security System (BLISS)”, he assured listeners of the weekly program.
The government, internal security forces and the local government units conceived the BLISS to expand the security local capability. This is through engaging communities’ help in repelling reporting re-entry of communist terrorists who left Bohol during the recent anti-insurgency operations, explained Bohol PSSupt. Edgardo Ingking, during a PPOC presentation months ago.
The pull-out and the re-assignment of the 302nd Brigade to Negros which left only a few internal security units operating here heightened the implementation of the BLISS.
Now, after Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)-induced conflict, the country’s military leadership pulled out Bohol’s 43rd Infantry Battalion to help secure Lanao. The movement also significantly decreased the number of armed internal security units here.
Over the development, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was visibly angered and deeply frustrated by the treacherous MILF acts now doubts the prospects of an early conclusion of the peace process between government and the MILF.
In a statement aired by Press Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the President said she detests the MILF leadership’s lack of control over its base commands, which resulted in the slaughter of innocent civilians and displacement of thousands from their communities.
“The President is deeply saddened by the fate that has befallen the people of Lanao del Norte and regrets that the MILF’s failure to restrain its field commanders reflects the organization’s lack of sincerity to push for a successful conclusion of the peace process,” Ermita said.
At the recent National Security Cluster-Cabinet Meeting, the President has directed the military and police forces to conduct full, vigorous, and unrelenting pursuit operations and use every available arsenal at their disposal against rogue elements of the MILF.
This instruction bolsters an earlier directive from the President for government forces to take back every inch of territory from these marauders at all cost, prevent their re-occupation at will, and to ensure that peace, order and security are restored.
As the military forces have their hands full in a mission to bring to justice the rogue MILF elements, she also warned other armed groups not to take advantage of the situation in Mindanao by undertaking their own destabilization efforts.
In such occurrences, government armed forces will not hesitate to act in a manner that is most appropriate and swift to contain these groups, Ermita read. (rachiu/PIA)
by anyajulia | Aug 20, 2008 | Headlines, National News
TAG 5 milyones ka pesos ang patong sa duha ka rebeldeng pangulo sa Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), ug kini ang tanyag sa kagamhanan alang sa si kinsa nga makasikop niining duha.
Ang P10 milyones nga pabuya gitukbil Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno alang sa pagkasikop nila MILF Commanders Abdullah Macapar alias Commander Bravo ug Commander Ameril Umbra Kato aron mapadali ang pagtaral ning duha sa hukmanan.
Matud ni Puno, may mga kaso nga nga gipasaka batok sa duha didto sa Buhatan sa Piskaliya sa North Cotabato ug sa Lanao del Norte. (rachiu/PIA)
