Bilateral ceasefire with mechanisms needed after Makilala incident - peace adviser

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 23): Bilateral ceasefire with mechanisms needed after Makilala incident - peace adviser

A bilateral ceasefire with guidelines and mechanisms have become vital after the armed confrontation in Makilala, North Cotabato on Saturday involving the 39th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and an armed group believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

This was the statement issued by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza, who said that based on reports about the Makilala incident a bilateral ceasefire is more needed otherwise each side, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the NPA will have their own reports and accusations favorable to their own version and interest or propaganda line.

Although he still need to verify the report, Dureza, who is still in New York attending meetings with United Nations officials, said that in a bilateral ceasefire independent monitors conduct their own independent investigations, submit reports with possible sanctions imposed, if warranted.

Dureza cited the best practices in the government’s peace engagements with the Bangsamoro that can be instructive to both sides.

There are concerns that the Makilala incident could affect the ongoing peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDFP) and may prompt the communist revolutionaries to lift its unilateral ceasefire especially that there is an ongoing pursuit operations against an armed group allegedly involved in harassment and extortion activities in the area.

Soldiers of the 39 Infantry Battalion and operatives of Makilala Municipal Police Station in North Cotabato are now conducting manhunt operations against the lawless armed groups involved in extorting a driver of a construction company.

In a report from the 10th Infantry Division, at about 5:30 a.m. of Jan. 22, the military and operatives of Makilala Municipal Police Station were fired by unidentified armed groups.

A 30-minute firefight ensued. Troops recovered from the site three high-powered rifles, several personal belongings and a body of an unidentified man.

On Jan. 21, the police and soldiers were conducting a joint operation to arrest the groups behind the harassment and extorting a truck driver from a construction company around 5:00 p.m.

While on their way, an armed group fired upon the operatives that resulted in an hour-long exchange of gunfire.

Earlier at around 2:10 p.m. of Jan. 20, the office of Santos Land Development Corporation reported to the Makilala Police Station that a company driver, Delio Tongcos, was harassed by four armed men riding in tandem on-board two motorcycles at Purok Pili Nut, Malasila, Makilala, North Cotabato.

The driver of the 10-wheeler truck reported that armed men fired at him and threatened the management will suffer the consequences if they fail to give in to their extortion demands. The armed men forcibly took the key of the said truck and escaped immediately.

The Makilala PNP immediately responded and requested the assistance of 39th Infantry Battalion for the pursuit of the armed extortionists who escaped towards Barangay Biangan, Makilala, North Cotabato.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=957305