Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Lanao town mayor fears MILF attack

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 24): Lanao town mayor fears MILF attack

A town mayor in Lanao Del Sur has expressed the fear of an attack by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces of his town in a bid to rescue a jailed follower, a report reaching here said on Tuesday.

Vice Mayor Lacson Lantud of Pantao Ragat has sought the assistance of the military after receiving reports that “Kumander Bravo” was massing about 700 fully armed followers – ready to attack Pantao Ragat anytime.

Lantud said that the case stemmed when the military has arrested one of “Kumander Bravo’s” men identified as Majid Abuat for alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a public school teacher Aslaime Pangader and husband Nait Wednesday last week.

Lantud said that “Kumander Bravo”, real name is Abdullah Macapaar, was demanding the release of Abuat who was then detained in the town of Maigo in Lanao Del Norte after the military arrested him in Pantao Ragat.

Lantud said that instead of releasing Abuat, the Malaysian members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) who are overseeing the Bangsamoro peace process with the national government, has taken custody of Abuat.

Sr. Pol. Supt. Madid Paitao, Lanao Del Norte provincial police chief, said that Abuat is still officially detained since the IMT could not release the detained person without proper order from the court.

Lantud has expressed the fear that Kumander Bravo will do anything to rescue his follower prompting him to appeal to the military authorities to reinforce Pantao Ragat’s undermanned police force to thwart any attempt of Bravo to attack the town.

In 2000, Macapaar led the deadly attack on the Kauswagan town in Lanao Del Norte after then President Joseph Estrada’s declaration of an all-out war against the MILF.

When the government backed down on the memorandum on ancestral domain the MILF earlier proposed, Macapaar again raided two towns in Lanao Del Norte.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=656432

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.