An Army spokesperson here appealed Friday to warring Moro rebels to think of their own families and relatives who were forced to evacuate every time their fire their guns over minor misunderstanding.
The appeal was aired by Captain Antonio Bulao, chief of the information unit of the military's 602nd Infantry Brigade based in Carmen,
Huge Moro clans belonging to MILF and MNLF traded shots over a long standing land dispute that forced about 200 families from Sitio Leonard, Barangay Manubuan, Matalam,
"Think of your family and relatives who will be displaced every time you quarrel," Bulao told Moro rebel leaders.
The sporadic fighting erupted last May in Barangay Marbel, also in Matalam and escalated to other interior Muslim villages.
"No matter how many soldiers and military hardware we deploy in their village if they continue the culture of resolving conflict through the barrel of guns, these communities will never be peaceful," Bulao told DXND Radyo Bida, a Church-run Radio based in
"Every single bullet you fire against your fellow Moro, will result to evacuation of civilians who happened to be your relatives and family members," Bulao added. "Can't you feel the hardship these affected families are into?" he asked.
MNLF and MILF leaders both stressed the armed conflict in Matalam was not an organization misunderstanding but of huge Muslim clans who own large parch of land and happened to be members of either Moro front.
"The peace or un-peace in your communities largely depends on your leaders," Bulao told the displaced families who refused to return home and prefer to stay in evacuation sites.
Leaders of MNLF and MILF have agreed to a ceasefire and allow concerned government agencies to do land ownership validation.
Despite words from Moro leaders and the military that the community is now safe for their return, the refugees prefer to stay put in evacuation centers.
Manubuan village Chair Melecio Opinaldo said the village council had passed a resolution urging the Army to put up an Army base in Sitio (sub-village) Leonard so the affected families can return home and sleep soundly.
Without saying anything about the village council's request, Bulao said a contingent of Army Special Forces had been deployed in the village to serve as peacekeepers.
However, he said the unit may be pulled out soon when the situation calls for it.
As to the request of villagers, Bulao said the Army's 602nd Brigade is still assessing it.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=558018
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