Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Maguindanao guv urges town mayors to help secure communities vs BIFF

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 6): Maguindanao guv urges town mayors to help secure communities vs BIFF

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu has called on all town mayors in the province to design localized security plan to ensure the safety of civilians, especially in areas where outlawed Moro armed group regularly harassed.

"We should have security plan and we should always be ahead of the lawless groups,” Mangudadatu told a news conference after presiding over the Maguindanao provincial peace and order council Tuesday.

At least 7,000 individuals have been displaced by atrocities carried out by outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the towns of Ampatuan and Abdullah Sangki in Maguindanao since December 24.

Fighting involving Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Sultan sa Barongis also displaced civilians who are now in at least three evacuation centers.

Mangudadatu said police and military authorities have designed security measures but it is still best for the local leaders, down to the barangay, to have its own defense plan.

“We all know that the police and the military could not be in all places at all times, so the local officials are expected to protect their own people,” Mangudadatu said.

More police and military checkpoints have been established in areas considered conflict zone. These are the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Mamasapano, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Shariff Saydona and Sultan sa Barongis, areas where the BIFF operate.

Mangudadatu also directed the provincial relief response team to continue with the distribution of food packs and assistance to displaced families.

He also handed out financial assistance to relatives of slain farmers in Barangay Kauran, Ampatuan, Maguindanao even as he assured them that justice will be served.

Mangudadatu said the government is filing charges against the Barangay Kauran attackers.

The governor also appealed to the MILF leadership to help protect civilian communities from BIFF and help mediate in the MILF infighting.

Relief workers of the provincial emergency and disaster response team and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Midnanao - Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Response Team (ARMM-HEART) have extended food packs and other provisions to about 7,000 evacuees on Monday and Tuesday.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, through ARMM-HEART, also extended financial and medical assistance to two civilians trapped and injured in Sultan sa Barongis town after MILF clashed on Monday morning due to long standing land dispute.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=843726

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