Uneasy silence hovers in Sulu

From Malaya (Feb 7): Uneasy silence hovers in Sulu

MNLF takes up position; ASG disperses

STILL quiet. The Patikul municipal police station in Sulu yesterday said it has not monitored any movement from either the Moro National Liberation Front or the Abu Sayyaf bandit group, which clashed Sunday.

Some 2,000 MNLF members have assembled in the town in anticipation of a retaliatory attack from the Abu Sayyaf.

The MNLF remains in “defense mode” while the Abu Sayyaf bandits have split in small groups to avoid being cornered by the MNLF, said Senior Insp. Kris Conrad Gutierrez, Patikul police chief.

“Walang putukan, tahimik naman... So far, wala kaming na-monitor na movements sa magkabilang panig,” he said.

Gutierrez said the 2,000 MNLF forces are gathered in Sitio Kankitap and Kantatang, both in Barangay Buhanginan in Patikul town. They are led by Habier Malik.

Malik last month said his group started negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf to help government secure the release of hostages, including foreigners. Last Monday, Malik said his group decided to attack the Abu Sayyaf after negotiations collapsed.

The police and the military have been on alert since Monday for a resumption of hostilities. They have reported at least 22 dead in the Sunday clash.

Gutierrez belied the claim of MNLF spokesman Emmanuel Fontanilla who said Wednesday that their troops in Sulu, augmented by their troops from Basilan, overrun Abu Sayyaf camps in Patikul town and rescued three foreign hostages in operations that started Friday last week, or a day before the bandit group released two Filipino hostages.

Gutierrez said the police had not monitored any fighting other than the Sunday clash. “Nasa area kami nung February 1 wala naman kaming narinig na anumang putukan,” he said.

“Last February 4 (Monday), may na-monitor kami movements pero yun ay dahil ni-retrieve ng magkabilang grupo ang mga namatay nilang members at inilibing na rin nila,” Gutierrez added.
He said they also interviewed residents and “assets” in the area to confirm reports on the three rescued foreign hostages but no one can confirm it.

He said they have also not monitored any MNLF troop coming from Basilan arriving in Patikul.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista disputed reports about a resumption of hostilities in the hinterlands of Sulu.

He said the only fighting recorded was last Sunday’s.

Bautista said government troops remain deployed in Sulu to ensure that there will be no escalation or spillover of the fighting.

Ramon Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, said government’s “primary task” is to secure civilians.

Other issues like stopping the fighting “will come after we’ve done the primary task.”
Carandang said government also wants to make sure that any hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf remain safe.

President Aquino earlier said the MNLF attack on the Abu Sayyaf is not sanctioned by the government even if it has a standing peace agreement with the MNLF.

http://malaya.com.ph/index.php/news/nation/23812-uneasy-silence-hovers-in-sulu