AFP says tension in Mindanao eases

MANILA, Philippines – The tension between the forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has eased as the military claimed to have isolated a group of lawless elements in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

“At the start there was [tension], but as of now wala namang ganyan,” Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, said in a phone interview with Philstar.com.

Cabangbang added that the easing of tension between the government’s forces and the Moro rebels came after the MILF made an assurance that it will cooperate in the ongoing probe in the bloody Basilan attacks that killed at least 20 government forces.

“The issue [of the MILF’s involvement] in the attacks was properly addressed through the Joint Ceasefire Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (JCCCH), and they vowed to cooperate with the investigation,” Cabangbang said.

He also eased fears of soliciting more tensions between the AFP and the Moro rebels due to the ongoing operations in Payao town in Zamboanga Sibugay, saying it is a legitimate operation against lawless elements.

“There is nothing to worry about in Payao operation as the MILF knows that it is against the lawless element groups that sowed terror and atrocities in the area,” he said.

Isolated

Cabangbang, meanwhile, reported that government forces are closing-in "inch-by-inch" to the fortified positions of the rebels.

When asked on why it took them days to capture the one-by-three kilometer stretch of the rebel's camp at the tip of Payao Peninsula, Cabangbang cited the tough terrain that the military had to negotiate to get near the lawless group, led by Wanning Abdulsalam.

“The place is in the middle of a marshland, where this group brings their kidnapping victims, but we are gaining position in-by-inch,” he added. He said that the military is determined to establish authority over the isolated-rebel-infested area.

The military had said that Abdulsalam is leading at least 150 men in the marshlands of Payao town.

Cabangbang said that despite report that Abulsalam’s group is identified with the MILF, people concerned about the operations effect on peace process should not worry as there are no identified areas of temporary stay (ATS) in Payao town.

“While they are identified with the MILF, there is no identified ATS in the area, so there is no reason for them to establish a camp there," he reiterated.

Curfew

Cabangbang told Philstar.com that local officials have implemented curfew in Payao and its neighboring municipalities of Kabasalan, Alicia and Imelda.

He, however, denied reports that thousands of villagers in Payao and its outskirts have evacuated due to the military offensive.

He assured that the military operations are being conducted away from communities.

Reports yesterday said that 10,000 to 16,000 residents of Payao and nearby towns have fled their homes as the military intensified its airstrikes in the fortified position of Abdulsalam’s group.

The airstrikes started early Monday, three days after four soldiers and three policemen were killed in three separate ambuscades in Zamboanga Sibugay.

The MILF said that its members, belonging to the 114^th Base Command, carried out the attacks.

Basilan operations start

Meanwhile, Cabangbang said that military has an ongoing operations against the suspected groups responsible in the October 18 and October 23 attacks in Basilan, where 20 soldiers were killed.

He said that the groups are led by Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Long Malat Solaiman and MILF deputy commander Dan Laksaw Asnawi.

“We are running after the group of Malat and Asnawi. On Malat, there is no question of the legitimacy of operation since he is not identified with the MILF but of the Abu Sayyaf Group," he said.

He cited that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is now preparing charges against Asnawi to be filed before the JCCCH for his liabilities in the death of more than a dozen of soldiers and civilians.

“If the MILF will not do anything about it, we will be forced to enter their ATS, but of course on a proper coordination with the ceasefire committee,” he assured.