Gov't gives MILF 24 hours to move out of NCotabato areas

MANILA, Philippines - The government on Thursday gave the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) a 24-hour deadline to move out of several towns in North Cotabato that its forces had "forcibly taken." In a press conference at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Interior Sec. Ronaldo Puno said the MILF's occupation of several areas in North Cotabato was unacceptable and that the government will be compelled to use "whatever action is necessary" if the rebel forces refuse to leave the area within the deadline. The decision - which was finalized Wednesday night following a meeting of the National Security Council - came amid an already tense situation in Mindanao over disagreements on the government's ancestral domain agreement with the MILF, whose signing was halted by the Supreme Court. Earlier in the day, Executive Sec. Eduardo Ermita disclosed reports of unrest in Mindanao although he did not give details on the report. "Our peace advisers informed the International Monitoring Team and the combined Coordinating Committees for the Cessation of Hostilities. We are giving those individuals that forcibly occupied these areas 24 hours to vacate. Otherwise they shall be forcibly separated from the area. We cannot allow these things to happen," Puno said. "The 24-hour deadline will end at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Friday)," he added. Puno said that since July 1, several barangays in North Cotabato towns were forcibly occupied by some 800 elements of the MILF, including villages in the municipalities of Aleosan, Libungan and Midsayap. Puno also said the occupying forces had been involved in the burning of houses, destruction of plantations, looting, and cattle rustling, and had forced civilians to leave area. MILF attacks have also been recently reported in the towns of Pigkawayan and Northern Kabuntalan, he said. More than 1,500 families or over 6,500 individuals have been displaced in the towns of Midsayap and Aliosan alone as a result of atrocities committed by forces illegally occupying these areas. In the press briefing, Puno said that after the 24-hour period, the government will exhaust all peaceful means to address the situation, but stressed "we feel entitled and authorized to undertake whatever action is necessary." Puno said a joint police-military task force had been formed to lead the clearing of several barangays in North Cotabato forcibly occupied by alleged members of the MILF and to strictly enforce the law against the unauthorized carrying of firearms in these areas. On the other hand, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu denied reports that its troops have forcibly occupied areas in North Cotabato. "Hindi nag-aagaw ang MILF ng lupain (The MILF does not occupy lands)," kabalu said in an interview on dzBB radio. In the press briefing, Puno stressed that the order for the MILF to vacate the areas is not a declaration of war but "a declaration of the enforcement of the rule of law." For his part, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon Jr said the actions are meant to stabilize the situation and put the rightful owners back to those lands. Esperon said the CCCHs will relay the NSC directives to the MILF side. Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro Jr said the incident is not likely to impact the peace process with the MILF, saying the situation in North Cotabato is a "plain lawless incident." "It's like syndicated squatting," Teodoro said. Also, Puno ordered the Philippine National Police to disarm civilian volunteer organizations particularly in Aleosan town moving openly with firearms. Puno said he directed PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr to send three police battalions to go to the areas occupied by the MILF and enforce the law. "I would like to remind our local executives that CVOs are not authorized to carry firearms without specific authority of the director general of the PNP," he said. - GMANews.TV