BULUAN, Maguindanao -- The new Army division
commander in Maguindanao vowed to work closely with the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) to help address the illegal drug problem in the province.
Major General Carlito Galvez, newly installed commander of
the 6th Infantry "Kampilan" Division, said the Army will work with
the leadership of MILF "for proper coordination" in law enforcement
against illegal drug personalities.
"There is a need for complete cooperation between the
government forces and the MILF in running after drug personalities because many
of them are in areas where the MILF also operates," Galvez told the
Maguindanao Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting here Wednesday.
Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu as PPOC chair
discussed with the council the implementation of state of lawless as declared
by President Duterte.
Galvez, who served as chair of the government coordinating
committee on the cessation of hostilities before he became 6th ID chief, said
coordination is the key in successful police or military operation against
lawless elements. The same applies in neutralizing persons in illegal drugs, he
added.
As CCCH chair, Galvez has been regularly coordinating with
his counterpart in the MILF in the hunt against kidnappers, carnappers and
armed lawless elements in areas near MILF camps.
The 6th ID chief cited the vast Liguasan marshland where
illegal drug personalities allegedly sought refuge.
He said joint operations against drug personalities will be
effective in the marshland since the MILF knows the terrain better.
The Moro rebel group which signed a peace deal with the
government in 2014, has publicly declared it was against illegal drugs, calling
it "haram" (forbidden) for Muslims. It formed anti-drug teams to
eradicate the drug menace in Muslim communities.
Von Al Haq, MILF military spokesperson, has said more than
40 Moro residents who were suspected of having been involved in peddling, using
and producing prohibited drugs are now undergoing religious reorientation
inside MILF's Camp
Darapanan
"Illegal drug is the common enemy of both the MILF and
the government forces," AlHaq said in a radio interview.
Mangudadatu earlier ordered all local government executives
of 36 municipalities to require all government employees in their locality to
undergo compulsory drug test.
At the Maguindanao provincial capitol, Mangudadatu ordered
surprised drug test in July. The result, 18 employees, mostly job orders and
contractual, were found positive of illegal drug use.
Mangudadatu also vowed to work closely with the 6th ID
commander in helping the government contain armed groups that made the province
haven for terrorists.
The outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)
operates in Maguindanao as well as local terrorist organizations that expressed
sympathy to international terrorist organization Islamic State of Iran and Iraq
(ISIS)
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=923201
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