Army, Lanao execs plan to stop spillover of war

Sun.Star: The Philippine Army and local executives in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur are now planning contingency plans to prevent a spillover of the armed conflict in Basilan and Sulu. Sun-Star Cagayan de Oro (www.sunstar.com.ph) reported Monday that Iligan City mayor Lawrence Cruz initiated the meetings to prepare for the prospect of fighting breaking out in the area. Brig. General Rolando Rodriguez, chief of “Task Force Kilat," said Army soldiers in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte are prepared for any armed engagements. At least two Philippine Navy ships and four helicopters are at their disposal, he added. “We are keeping our communication lines open to foster peace," Rodriguez said. “In spite of the bad news, we are maintaining and constructing peace in the area," he added, referring to the deaths of several Marines in Basilan last weekend. During the meeting, “Task Force Kilat" of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division briefed the local executives of intelligence reports about the movement of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces about three kilometers from the town of Poona-Piagapo, Lanao del Sur. “I thank you all for maintaining the peace and order in our area and it remains our responsibility to sustain it," Mayor Cruz told the military, town mayors, imams, religious, and non-government sectors during the meeting. President Arroyo ordered the task force to protect vital government installations such as the hydroelectric plant and transmission towers of the state-owned National Power Corp. Meanwhile, the Philippines-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GRP-MILF) Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) urged both government and the MILF to observe the ceasefire agreement and sanction any violator of the agreement. Maj. Gen. Dato Ismail bin Ahmad Khan, the Chief of Mission of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), said he is confident the IMT’s mandate, which expires on Aug. 30, will be renewed. He also hopes the mandate of the RP-MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), which expired last July would also be renewed. IMT is tasked to monitor the RP-MILF ceasefire agreement. The IMT and the AHJAG had helped in averting confrontational situations between government troops and MILF forces on the ground. - GMANews.TV