24 MILF men held in Maguindanao

From Malaya Business Insight (Feb 22): 24 MILF men held in Maguindanao

GOVERNMENT forces apprehended 24 fully-armed members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Sultan sa Barongis town in Maguindanao on Tuesday night for uncoordinated movement, which is in violation of a ceasefire agreement.

Capt. Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao, said the rebels were released yesterday morning, through the ceasefire mechanism of the peace process.

Encinas said the 24 were intercepted by forces of the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion around 6:15 p.m. in Barangay Melib, aboard a vehicle. The rebels were carrying 19 M16 rifles and five M14 rifles.

Encinas said the 24 belong to the MILF’s 106th Base Command. He said the 24 claimed they were on the way to Ampatuan town supposedly to settle a conflict between two MILF commanders.

He said the 24 were brought to a military base in Sultan sa Barongis town.

At around 10:30 a.m., the 24 were released from military custody after coordination between members of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities of both sides.

Asked if no charges will be filed against the 24, Encinas said the military is giving primacy to the peace process. “We have ongoing peace talks with the MILF, so we left it to discretion of the CCCH of both sides,” he said.

However, he said the firearms seized from the 24 are still with the military. Encinas justified the apprehension of the MILF rebels, saying: “All movement, both military and MILF, should be coordinated to the CCCH. Admin or operation movement, they should be coordinated.”

Encinas said the 24 did not resist when accosted by soldiers.

The MILF signed a peace accord with the government in 2014 although the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which will establish a new political entity in the South, is yet to be passed by Congress.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/24-milf-men-held-maguindanao