4 Cotabato areas declared as peace zones

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines – The municipal council of Tulunan town here approved an ordinance on Tuesday declaring at least four areas, where deadly encounters between communist rebels and soldiers occurred, as “peace zones.”

A report on Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp. yesterday quoted Max Casulakan, coordinator of the municipal peace zones and development council, as saying the ordinance is aimed at preventing the intrusion of armed groups in Sitios Bituan, Nabundasan, Miatub and New Alimodian.

Tulunan Mayor Lani Candolada, chairman of the multisectoral municipal peace and order council, said her office would support the enforcement of the ordinance.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza lauded the efforts of local officials and community leaders in Tulunan to restore normalcy in the area.