Ultimatum issued vs groups terrorizing Palembang

Armed groups sowing terror in Palembang town in Sultan Kudarat were given only seven days to leave the town or surrender to the mayor.

The ultimatum was given by Palembang Mayor Labualas Mamansual, popularly known as Commander Samrod.

Mamansual was a former ranking leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) before he became mayor of Palembang.

"Mayor Mamansual told me the other day that he is giving the armed groups only seven days to surrender or he will take a drastic move against them," Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Mangudadatu said on Wednesday.

Mangudadatu was in town visiting the more than 2,000 evacuees from Barangays Tagaltal, Lumita and Kolog-kolong who were threatened by armed groups.

The governor said that according to Mamansual, the "drastic move" is already being prepared against the armed groups.

Although he said he is supporting Mamansual’s decision to use an iron fist in dealing with these groups, which he did not identify, he said he is still appealing to the groups to surrender to avoid bloodshed.

"If they surrender, I will give them financial assistance para sa pagbabagong buhay nila (so that they can start a new life)," he said. — Ramil Bajo