North Cotabato Moro villagers seek Army protection from warring MNLF, MILF

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 22): North Cotabato Moro villagers seek Army protection from warring MNLF, MILF

Villages officials in a remote community in North Cotabato have asked the military to establish an Army detachment in conflict affected Sitio (sub-village) so displaced families could return home safely.

The request was contained in a barangay resolution of Barangay Manubuan, Matalam, North Cotabato where Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had been trading bullets since May this year due to land dispute.

Displaced families numbering about 60 or some 300 individuals, all Moro people, have refused to return home.

This, despite the forging of a localized truce between two the Moro fronts and an order from local officials and military auhorities for them to return home.

The evacuees fled Barangay Manubuan, Matalam, North Cotabato when MILF and MNLF forces traded bullets due to a long standing land dispute involving two huge Muslim clans.

Barangay Manubuan chairperson Melecio Openaldo said a peace deal had been forged by leaders of the MILF and MNLF but residents were reluctant to return home.

“Karamihan sa kanila mga Muslim at kamag-anak ng mga naglalabang pamilya, mas gusto pa nila sa evacuation center kasi safe daw sila kaysa bumalik sa kanilang barangay at malagay sa alanganin (Many displaced families, mostly Moro people, prefer to stay in evacuation sites that risk their lives again in their barangay),” Opelnado said, adding that most of those who refuse to go back home were from Sitio (subvillage) Leonard, Barangay Manubuan.

“Di namin sila pwedeng pilitin kung ayaw nila, alam kasi nila ang sitwasyon doon (We can’t force them, they know the situation in there better than us),” Opelando said.

He said the village officials are looking forward to the approval of their request for Army peacekeeping force in their village.

“Tiyak makakatulog sila ng mahimbing pag alam nilang safe sila (Maybe these people can sleep soundly if they know soldiers are in their community),” Opelnado said.

The Army is yet to act on the village officials' request.

MILF and MNLF guns have been silent the past three days after a localized truce was forged between Dima Ambel of MNLF and Noah Sabel of MILF.

The truce calls for the cessation of hostilities and allowing negotiations at all times in resolving land dispute.

Two huge Muslim clans who happened to be members of MNLF and MILF, respectively, figured in shooting war since May that forced civilians, also their relatives, to flee.

Following the signing of a localized truce, Matalam Mayor Oscar Valdevieso and North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza sponsored a “Kanduli” (thanksgiving) Wednesday to celebrate the end of armed conflict.

North Cotabato police director Senior Supt. Danilo Peralta, said both warring clans from MNLF and MILF have agreed to “bury the hatchet” and remove their respective forces from an “eyeball to eyeball” position in Sitio Leonard.

The truce was brokered by the provincial government, Muslim religious leaders and the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team which monitors the ceasefire agreement between the government and MILF.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=557780