Security officials hold summit to address poll issues, bombings in Central Mindnanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 19): Security officials hold summit to address poll issues, bombings in Central Mindnanao

Security officials in the region on Thursday held a summit to start preparations for next year’s elections and address rising terrorism and criminality in Cotabato City and North Cotabato.

Major Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6th Infantry Division commander, called the Security Summit to address the series of bombings in Cotabato City and in Kabacan, North Cotabato, the alarming degree of the proliferation of prohibited drugs, illegal guns and zero conviction of crime suspects charged in local courts.

”Our guiding principle is we must be ready all the time and against all possibilities,” Pangilinan said. “We should not be reactionary but pro-active,” he added.

Among the issues the Summit dwelt on seriously was the series of bomb attacks in the city that left four persons wounded, including two soldiers and the rising cases of illegal drug pushing.

Pangilinan believed most crimes in Maguindanao and Cotabato City were illegal drugs-related.

A consensus was reached with security agencies recommending the establishment of a Special Courts to try high profile crimes with a judge coming from outside Mindanao.

"I will try my best to have that done before I retire from the military service," Pangilinan said.

Chief Supt. Ronald Estilles, police regional director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), stressed that there is a need for non-resident prosecutors leading the prosecution of profile crime suspects to avoid harassment from relatives and affiliates of crime offenders.

Pangilinan also suggested that the special court be put up inside the 6th ID camp with prosecutors and trial judge residing inside the military facility.

Colonel Ranulfo Sevilla, commanding officer of 5th Special Forces Battalion, lauded the proposal, saying it will prevent the recent grenade attacks in Cotabato City addressed to his officers and men.

Sevilla told summit participants that Ruben Montes alias Black Moro, leader of a gun-for-hire syndicate, was believed to be the brains of last week’s three grenade attacks in the city.

Montes, arrested on October 7 after trading bullets with soldiers in a running gun battle, was released on November 13. He was freed on orders of RTC-13 Judge Bansawan Ibrahim after he posted property bond.

Sevilla said Montes was avenging the death of his wife, brother and a follower who died during the gun battle. He escaped unscathed but was arrested with two high powered guns.

”He has the motive against our troops, he is capable and he has protector,” Sevilla said of Montes, who Sevilla believed, masterminded last weekend’s grenade attack on a power firm that triggered a citywide brownout followed by a rifle grenade attack on soldiers conducting patrol.

The next day, Sunday, Montes’ group also tossed a hand grenade in front of Café Florencio Bingo center. The grenade did not explode.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-ARMM) complained during the summit about the zero conviction of traffickers arrested and charged with violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Chief Supt. Manolito Labador, police regional director for Region 12 police, said he has directed his subordinates in North Cotabato to put a stop to the proliferation of grenades that are used by lawless elements in Kabacan, North Cotabato.

”We need to know where these grenades come from and how it ended up in the hands of lawless groups…for all we know there is already an improvised grenade manufacturing area in North Cotabato,” he said.

Like other security officials, Chief Supt. Labador favors the idea of putting up a special court for high profile crimes.

For next year's elections, the summit identified several areas to be placed under "areas of immediate concern," including Cotabato City following the rash of bombings.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=829099