MILF, MNLF join anti-drugs fight, agree on info sharing with gov't

From InterAksyon (Jul 15): MILF, MNLF join anti-drugs fight, agree on info sharing with gov't

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are fighting another war -- the war on illegal drugs, and this time they will be working alongside the government's law enforcers by sharing information on drug activities in their respective areas.

This developed after the MILF signed on Tuesday an agreement of cooperation with the government on suppressing the proliferation of illegal drugs throughout the country.

The MILF’s concern over the illegal drugs problem prompted its Central Committee to pass a resolution to take immediate action.

In a press conference here in Davao City on Wednesday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno said, “We saw the willingness of the MILF in eradicating drug problems in their area. They saw how drugs affected their lives.”

Both the government and the MILF formalized five provisions in conducting anti-illegal drug operations in respect to all existing protocols under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and all agreements signed between the GPH and the MILF.

But Sueno clarified that the cooperation is limited only to information sharing on the illegal drug trade within the MILF’s jurisdiction.

The cooperation was sealed between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) on the campaign against illegal drugs in MILF affected areas.

It was signed by the chair of the MILF CCCH Butch Malang, MILF AHJAG chair lawyer Abdul Dataya, and their counterparts in the GPH, Brig. Gen. Glenn Macasero and Brig. Gen. Arnel De La Vega.

Sueno said the MILF will help law enforcement authorities in identifying drug peddlers or pushers operating within their area.

“The MILF will operate in their area in the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao). The MILF and the government forces will have a sharing of notes on the alleged drug personalities,” Sueno told reporters in a press conference on Wednesday morning.

Under the agreement, the parties agreed that all government anti-illegal drug units shall coordinate with the AHJAG and CCCH.

“Information exchange/sharing, which includes, but not limited to, the submission of the MILF of a list of drug personalities identified in its area subject to validation of the law enforcement agencies,” the agreement states.

It is also agreed that the MILF can conduct an information drive on the ill-effects of illegal drugs in the MILF affected areas as part of its demand reduction activities and such information drive may be conducted in coordination with the barangay, municipal, city, or provincial anti-drug abuse councils.

For its part, the MNLF offered to join the campaign but wanted that their members should be trained first in gathering evidence.

MNLF chief negotiator Randolph Parcasio recalled that they joined the anti-drugs operations in Davao, particularly in Barangay 23-C, but the cases filed against suspects were dismissed due to failure of providing evidence.

http://interaksyon.com/article/130398/milf-mnlf-join-anti-drugs-fight-agree-on-info-sharing-with-govt