Army downplays talks on spillover of clashes between government forces, armed groups

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 29): Army downplays talks on spillover of clashes between government forces, armed groups

Lt. General Aurelio Baladad, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, belittled the probability of an escalation of more violent clashes between the government forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front following the series of encounters that left 44 police commandos killed and 12 injured in Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao Sunday.

Speaking at the AFP-PNP Press Corps briefing on Wednesday, he said the immediate intervention of the members of the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities of the government and the MILF and peace panels of the government and MILF has eased the situation.

“We see all of them talking, so the probability of another encounter is very less, while a possible spill-over to other parts of Mindanao is even lesser,” Baladad said.

He said that despite this, the military has extended and intensified its security awareness and readiness especially in places that experienced the explosions of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Baladad said the probability of more IED explosions as experienced by Bukidnon Province remains present because of reports that the IEDs came from the area of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

“We increased security by setting up checkpoints along the routes, inspecting cargoes from Maguindanao to our areas of responsibility,” he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=730573