Monkayo police stops alleged MNLF recruitment for federalism

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 29, 2020): Monkayo police stops alleged MNLF recruitment for federalism (By Michael Uy)

DAVAO DE ORO, September 25, 2020 - Due to a report from a concerned citizen, Monkayo police halted the recruitment activity of two women bringing a document allegedly from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

The document is in a form of a memorandum order from the MNLF Central Committee, Office of the Guardian of President Security Affairs directing a certain LtGen Jabar Abdullah T. Gonzales to recruit and organize barangay officials, who do not hold any incumbent position, and advocate federal form of government.

In a Facebook post, the local government unit of Monkayo disclosed that the MNLF group is asking PhP 300 each from their recruits.

Major Clifford John Nabor, Monkayo chief of police, emphasized that prompt report from a citizen disrupted the recruitment activity of the group.

“Base sa report, nagstorya ra sila sa area, wala pay nasingil kay na-report man dayon,” he said. (According to the report, they had discussions in the area, but no money was collected since it was reported immediately.)

Major Nabor also bared that the group was targeting an indigenous peoples community in the town.

“Tungod kay naa man sila sa IP community, kinahanglan jud nila mangayo og permit gikan sa tribu, pati na sa munisipyo,” he said. (Since they are (conducting their activity) in the IP community, they need to get permit from the tribe, as well as from the municipality.)

Monkayo Mayor Ramil Gentugaya stressed that such group does not have any permit from the national and local government, and is not recognized by the law.

He added that the group does not even have a permit from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), who was tasked to take the lead in the activities related to the Proposed Federalism.

“Akong gi-dapit ang tanang Monkayoans nga mahimong igmat sa maong bag-ong matang sa pang-haylo sa atong mga katawhan. Kung aduna man kamo nailhan o nahibal-an nga nahilambigit ni-ining maong grupo o pundok, mamahimo ninyong ipahibalo sa atong kapulisan,” the mayor said. (I am encouraging the Monkayoans to be vigilant in the new way to deceive our people. If you know a person or have any information related to this group, you can report it to the police.) (PIA XI, Michael Uy)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1054466