Zambo Norte to arm civilian volunteers vs MILF

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Zamboanga del Norte will arm its civilian volunteers and village watchmen to repel any possible attack by Moro rebels. Governor Rolando Yebes said this was agreed upon during his meeting with the Provincial Peace and Order Council last Tuesday. "We are preparing defensive postures. We checked the barangays on the drills when there would be attacks," he said. The meeting was called a day after hundreds of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters attacked Kolambugan town in Lanao del Norte and killed a number of civilians there. Yebes said they have received reports that MILF forces are congregating in the villages of Sibuco, Siraway and Siocon towns. He added that these MILF are likely to attack them since he had been vocal in his opposition to the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain, which included eight villages in the province in the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE). "We have to protect ourselves. We don't want to be at the mercy of these armed elements and then the military could not warrant our safety. They come late," he said. Yebes also said that the provincial board is trying to allocate budget for the purchase of shotguns that will be used by their security force. The official however assured that the set-up will not be subject for abuse. "They could not carry these guns with them wherever they go. Only in the areas where they are confined," Yebes said. Yebes disclosed that he requested Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano, who hailed from the province, to augment the soldiers in the province. - GMANews.TV