Soldiers told: Stay neutral in 2004 polls

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — Newly installed Army chief Major Gen. Efren Abu prodded soldiers in Central Mindanao the other day to stay neutral in next year’s synchronized local and national elections.

Abu also prodded them to continue carrying out rehabilitation projects in the region to complement Malacañang’s peace initiatives with local separatist forces.

Abu, who met with officials of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and its component units here, said the Army, under his leadership, would focus on socio-cultural programs to strengthen cultural and religious solidarity between military forces and local communities.

Abu lauded the Army’s Sallam (Peace) Unit, composed of Muslim soldiers, some of them Islamic missionaries, for being actively involved in various rehabilitation projects and for having worked out the recent surrender of hundreds of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas.

Units of the 6th ID have started reconciling feuding Muslim clans to help ensure peaceful elections in Central Mindanao next year.

Maj. Gen. Generoso Senga, 6th ID commander, said their units would help the Commission on Elections enforce the ban on carrying of firearms during the campaign period. — John Unson