RP-MILF ceasefire panel denies fresh JI landing in Mindanao

DIPOLOG CITY — The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have denied that terrorists belonging to the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) have landed in Central Mindanao as reported by Sen. Panfilo Lacson last week.

Von Al Haq, chairman of the MILF’s coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities, said the reported landing is a "recycled issue" propelled by people with vested interests.

"If you remember there is a pending bill or resolution on anti-terrorism," he said, "this might be a possible thing to support the pending bill."

On the other hand, Brig. Gen. Ramon Santos, who chairs the government’s coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities, said whether the report is true or not it has not been sanctioned by the MILF.

"This might be an individual decision on their part, but not an organizational action," he said.

Santos and Haq spoke to reporters Friday after the 26th Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities meeting at the Top Plaza Hotel that culminated with the Fifth Tripartite meeting with the Malaysia-led International Monitoring Team.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Dato Zulkifeli Bin Mohad Zin, IMT mission commander, said the ceasefire is continuing as mutual trust and cooperation develops between the two panels.

"The ceasefire is holding up very well and the sustenance is very important to facilitate… cooperation," he said.

At the closing of the 26th JCCCH, the government and MILF panels agreed to undertake joint inquiries on incidents of alleged ceasefire violations to prevent any setback to peace talks.

They have also agreed to continue disseminating information to bring the peace process closer to the people.

The peace process has gained "positive results" because of the "growing cooperation and mutual trust of both forces," the government and MILF panels said.

Last week, police and troops launched a manhunt for JI terrorists following reports that they had slipped in through the Philippines’ southern backdoor.

The JI cadres are reportedly supervising the training of local extremists in Camp Mangaturing, located in the boundary of Upper Minabay, Buldon town and Kapatagan town in Lanao del Sur.

Director Vidal Querol, Western Area police commander, said they have received intelligence reports that the JI has started training Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the jungles of Central Mindanao. — Roel Pareño