MILF areas to be put under Westmincom

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) has recommended to place all areas with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) presence to be under its area of responsibility, a senior military official said.

Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Rey Ardo said the move is one of the campaign plans under his thrust in stabilizing the peace to help the economic development in southern Philippine region.

Ardo, who made the pronouncement at the sidelines of the Westmincom New Year’s call on all of its ground commanders, said the aim in putting Maguindanao under its area of responsibility (AOR) is to allow the area command to focus on addressing the concerns of the MILF.

He said this will also allow the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) to focus more on the communist insurgent issues.

Ardo said the plan of placing Maguindanao under its AOR is in preparation of the possible signing of accord between the government and MILF as an offshoot of the signing of the framework agreement which paves the way for disarmament, demobilization and integration of the MILF combatants into the national force.

“I hope matutuloy na ang direction na ang Maguindanao ay mapunta sa Westmincom so that they (MILF) have only one unit to coordinate,” Ardo said.

Maguindanao, where majority of the MILF are based, is part of the AOR of the Eastmincom in Central Mindanao.

Lanao provinces, where some of the MILF units have been operating and based, are under the Westmincom AOR.

Another senior military official said with the anticipated peace signing, MILF rebels who were facing insurgency-related crimes or having standing warrants of arrest will be given clemency.

The official said the MILF has also started checking its roster of members. Those linked with terror groups will be de-listed to allow the government law enforcement units to hunt them.

Ardo also said if his recommendations will materialize, the 6th Army Division, operating in Central Mindanao, will also be under its watch.

Ardo said placing Maguindanao under the Westmincom AOR was traditionally part of the plan when the defunct Southern Command was divided into two area commands.