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Philippine Army Declares no Suspension Of Military Offensives, Ceasefire In Lanao
12 August 2009
An officer of the Philippine Army based in the province of Lanao del Norte declared days ago that there’s no suspension of military offensives (SOMO) and ceasefire between the government and MILF forces in Lanao areas. The army officer was identified by some locals as certain Captain Baya of the Philippine Army. Locals said that Captain Baya had been making his pronouncements in many instances in public and in front of the witnesses. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued the SOMO in the conflict affected communities last July 23, 2009 in the wake of her administration’s bid to resume the long-year-stalled peace negotiations with the MILF. Fierce clashes and hostilities between government and MILF forces from flared since august last year (2008) following the aborted signing of the initialed GRP-MILF MOA-AD due to the controversial intervention by the Philippine Supreme Court. In reaction, a political leader of MILF in Lanao del Sur said “we find ridiculous for an army captain’s pronouncements undermining President Arroyo’s declaration of SOMO,” even as he said that the military officer should instead adhere to the primacy of the peace process being pursued by his Commander-in-Chief. In the municipalities of Piagapo, Tangkal, Munai and Poona Piagapo, all in Lanao del Norte, AFP troops had warned some locals of being arrested (arbitrarily) if they will not cooperate and help for the surrender of MILF forces who accordingly are facing criminal raps. These direct threat and harassment on the civilians by the military and allegedly in collaboration with local government leaders maim efforts to build confidence from the people for the ground on the goodwill on the bid to resume negotiations, said the MILF political officer. Lanao folks call for all the AFP troops now holding grounds in civilian communities be repositioned back to their original detachments in order for the local people to feel free and safe, and for their communities be not militarized, he said. Last August 7, 2009 at around 730am, soldiers of the Alpha Company, 51st Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army conducted uncoordinated movements and patrol in the municipality, Lumbayanague, Lanao del Sur particularly at barangays Petatangelan, Pindolonan, Bagoa Inged, Poctan, and Wago. These AFP movements, which clearly violated the SOMO and the existing ceasefire agreement between the GRP and MILF, caused much alarm amongst local MILF forces and held local folks in anxiety for fear of occurrence of firefight between the two armed forces at any given provocation. Accordingly, the army troops stayed in an area proximate to residences of MILF forces, commanders and leaders before going out back to their barracks.
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