14 barangays occupied by 800-man rebel band
by Raymond Africa
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno yesterday gave the Moro Islamic Liberation Front up to 10 a.m. today to vacate areas it has occupied in North Cotabato, on pain of an all-out offensive.
Puno said reports reaching his office showed some 800 MILF members under one Commander Umbrahato of the MILF’s 105th Base Command have taken over 14 barangays in five towns since July 1.
Sa “Strictly Politics” noong Martes, kinumpirma ni North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Piñol na kanyang mensahe ang umiikot sa text na nanawagan sa mga tao na humanda magdepensa sa sarili. Itong ang text:
“My beloved people. Tonite I was told by a top govt official that if our opposition to be included in the ARMM will result in MILF attacks, the armed forces will not be able to help us all out because that is the policy of this government. If this is the case we have to defend ourselves. Let us be brave and stand firm. God is with us”
The opposition suspects Gloria Arroyo is pushing for a piecemeal political settlement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in order to pursue her agenda of staying in power beyond 2010 through Charter change.
There is basis to this suspicion, but it should guard against under-estimating the wiliness of Gloria.
Update: Govt panel belies MILF claim
by Victor Reyes
Malaya
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front considers the agreement on ancestral domain “a done deal” and expects the government to abide by its provisions despite its aborted signing yesterday, an MILF official said.
“The MILF leadership, which is the Central Committee of the MILF, has an official position. that the memorandum of agreement on the Bangsamoro Ancestral Domain has been signed,” said Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs.
Hininto ng Korte Suprema ang pirmahan ng mga representatives ng pamahalaan ng Pilipinas at ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front ng napagkasunduan tungkol sa pagpatayo ng BangsaMoro Juridical Entity (BJE) na sana ay ngayong araw sa Kuala Lumpur.
Sa mga lumabas na dokumento ng agreement, maliban sa limang probinsya na kasama ngayon sa Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) -Maguindanao,Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Sulu , Tawi-tawi at marawi City, 712 pa na barangays sa lalawigan ng Sultan Kudarat, Lanao de Norte kasama ang 98 na barangay sa Zamboanga, at sobra isang daan na barangay sa North Cotabato and isasama sa BJE.
The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order on the signing of the agreement on ancestral domain between the representatives of the Philippine government and…
While many heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing the news that peace talks between Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front collapsed Friday, there were also those who were disappointed.
Many of those who are disappointed do not necessarily believe that the memorandum of agreement that Arroyo’s representatives will sign with MILF leaders will lead to peace in Mindanao. In fact, like those who oppose the proposed agreement, they believe that it is just a vehicle for Arroyo to push for charter change so that she can stay in power beyond 2010.
Breaking news:
Esperon has just issued a statement from KL:
“A breakthrough has been achieved in the issue of ancestral domain in Kuala Lumpur at 8:15 PM tonite with teh signing of a joint communique between the GRP panel headed by Chair Rodolfo Garcia and the MILF panel under Chair Iqbal.
“With this positive development and the negotiations, the signing of the framework agreement on ancestral domain is tentatively set early August this year.”
From Inquirer:
ZAMBOANGA –– Peace talks between the Philippine government and Muslim separatist rebels collapsed after Manila tried to go back on an earlier agreement, rebel spokesmen said Saturday.
The government will hold a plebiscite early next year in more than 700 barangays to set up an ancestral homeland for Muslims, part of a deal with the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Hermogenes Esperon, presidential adviser on the peace process, yesterday said the proposed Muslim homeland would also be empowered to collect about 75 percent of taxes from oil, mines and fisheries in the area.