AFP all set to serve warrants, other orders vs Ampatuans

While it maintained that the situation in Maguindanao remains peaceful, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has started augmenting its troops in the troubled province to assist the police in serving arrest warrants and suspension orders against those implicated in last week’s carnage. AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said that Army troops will be there to help make sure that these documents are served peacefully “without any chance of chaos or violence in the area." The deployment of at least 3,000 soldiers in the towns of Shariff Aguak, Ampatuan, and Buluan in Maguindanao and in Cotabato City came after President Arroyo gave the go-signal to suspend government officials who were implicated in the killing of 57 people by militiamen allegedly working for the Ampatuan clan. [See: Fate of Maguindanao execs depends on Puno] The victims included the wife and two sisters of Buluan vice mayor Ismael “Toto" Mangudadatu, two women lawyers, and some 30 journalists. They were on their way to Shariff Aguak to register the vice mayor as gubernatorial candidate in Maguindanao. Brawner said a battalion commander in the area received the information that the government would serve the warrants and suspension orders today, December 1.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Military preponderance in Maguindanao Aside from providing assistance, Brawner said the preponderance of military forces in the province is also part of the preparation against possible “resurrection" of violence. “We need that in order to maintain the peace in the area. If we move the troops in the area there are chances of retaliation by the other camp, or there might be changes that other groups, other armed groups might take advantage of the situation," he said. At least five battalions, including three infantry battalions and two mechanized units, have been pre-positioned in the said areas. According to Brawner, two battalions and a mechanized unit have secured the regional seat of the ARMM and the provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak, capital town of Maguindanao. The other mechanized unit has reportedly been dispersed to secure the surrounding towns of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat, both those deemed loyal to the Ampatuans and to the Mangudadatus. Civil disturbance measures were also put in place, in case the supporters of the Ampatuans block the authorities who would be serving the suspension orders. 601st Brigade remains in place Although there is unconfirmed talk of the possible entry of the Philippine Marines into the troubled provinces, the Army's 601st Brigade remained in the area, with headquarters at Kalandagan village in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat. The brigade's three battalions also remained in their areas of deployment, with the 64th IB based in brgy. Kabingi in Datu Sinsuat Ampatuan in Maguindanao; the 75th IB based in brgy. Tual in Pres. Quirino, Sultan Kudarat; and the 46th IB based in brgy. Matalam in Talayan, Maguindanao. The 46th IB was supposed to be sent back to its mother unit, the 8th Infantry Division in Samar, but was retained to help the 64th IB secure Maguindanao under the current state of emergency. Last Friday, Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, and 601st Brigade commander Col. Medardo Geslani were relieved from their positions pending investigation on possible lapses in the series of events leading to and right after the November 23 Ampatuan massacre. Former commander of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command Maj. Gen. Anthony Alcantara replaced Cayton, while Col. Leo Ferrer, former commander of Task Force General Santos City, replaced Geslani. Police officials and personnel were also relieved and investigated for alleged participation in the massacre. In addition, the AFP also deactivated four companies of the special CAFGU (Citizen’s Armed Force Geographical Unit) composed of 357 personnel, as well as civilian volunteer organizations (CVO). The CAFGUs are under Army supervision while the CVOs are under the supervision of local governments. Earlier, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan appealed to the government to hear his family’s side before imposing any sanctions on them. As of posting time, only Ampatuan’s younger brother, Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., is under government custody. At least 25 counts of murder charges have already been filed against him on Tuesday morning before a Cotabato City court. – JV, GMANews.TV