Army, PNP see peaceful ARMM polls with MILF's backing

From the Philippine News Agency (May 8): Army, PNP see peaceful ARMM polls with MILF's backing

Military and police officials foresee a peaceful and orderly midterm elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Among the major contributory factors that contributed to a peaceful run-up for the May 13 national and local polls was the existing ceasefire agreement between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the rebels' commitment to help the authorities in the peaceful conduct of the balloting.

Chief Supt. Noel Delos Reyes, police director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said he appreciated the assurance issued by MILF chief Al-Haj Murad that his forces will abide by the special security arrangement aimed at ensuring a peaceful balloting in areas that were used to be violent before and during elections.

ARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Through the efforts of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the MILF and the GPH crafted a special ceasefire agreement in Davao City last April 22.

The agreement restrained the MILF forces from getting close to any voting centers in their areas of jurisdiction or carry firearms during election day.

"We are glad with the MILF's commitment to help maintain a peaceful balloting," Delos Reyes said, appreciating the MILF leadership for their good gesture.

In a statement, the MILF said it will only support candidates who back the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement but will not campaign against those who will not support the accord.

In previous elections, the MILF maintained a non-participation policy, exactly opposite in its new stance where they will support, as individual voters, candidates supporting the GPH-MILF peace process.

The MILF also said individual MILF members are supporting the administration candidates who openly support the peace process as President Aquino, chair of the Liberal Party, was sincere in his aspiration for the peace process to succeed.

His statement ran counter to claims by certain members of the United Nationalist Alliance in the ARMM provinces that they enjoy the political backing of the MILF.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Gapuz, 6th Infantry Division commanding general, also welcomed Murad’s assurance of cooperation with the security efforts of the Commission on Elections.

According to Gapuz said any violation in the agreement will be reported quickly to the GPH-MILF joint ceasefire panel for appropriate action.

"We are glad with the developments, we hope it will set a precedent ahead of the 2016 national elections," Lawyer Ray Sumalipao, Comelec-ARMM regional director.

He said it was unprecedented since it was the first time that the rebel movement had publicly declared its full cooperation for the safe conduct of the balloting.

Gapuz and Delos Reyes both said Maguindanao's balloting is expected to be as peaceful as ever since all stakeholders vowed to work with security officials.

"Security preparations for Maguindanao are now in place, but are still subject to immediate changes according to the disposition of the Comelec," Delos Reyes said.

Both officials assured the public that their subordinates from highest officials to the lowest and ordinary police and soldiers will remain apolitical and will not take sides except for Safe and Fair Elections (SAFE).

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=523866