ICC Dispatch - Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Esperon underscores govt’s peace negotiating scheme

ICC Iligan City - Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has emphasized to the people of the province of Lanao del Norte that the government’s decisions are not only aimed at achieving peace in Mindanao but also to provide security to the inhabitants as well.

Esperon made this announcement in front of a crowd numbering to a thousand during his “Mobile Peace TV” held at the Mindanao Civic Center, in Tubod town, this province.

The program, which showcased peace initiatives that lead to development, was sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and will be aired over NBN Channel 4 at 8 o’clock in the morning, every Saturday.

In his message, Esperon lauded Lanao del Norte Governor Khalid Dimaporo for holding activities such as tthe Department of Education’s (DepEd) Peace Village, Mindanao Week of Peace culminating activity, Bishops Ulama Conference, peace talks at the local level to pacify ‘rido’ (armed settlement of a family feud), and the creation of the Peace Initiative Council.

While there are factors attributed to resolve conflict, the solution is not at all military operations, because conflicts can be settled through dialogues or peace negotiations, which we are pushing now. The conflict must be resolved in the table, not in the battle field, Esperon expressed.

Esperon added that through dialogues with the local government units (LGU) affected, different ideas could be shared on how to attain peace and the necessary inputs will be gathered.

He said hopefully by the middle of December, they would be able to submit recommendations to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for her to decide before the year ends on whether to resume peace the talks or not.

Esperon emphasized President Arroyo’s three conditions to consider before the start of the peace negotiation: 1) all our communities must be safe from the degradations of armed groups, and that we must maintain our security forces-the government troops; 2) internally displaced persons must be brought back/or return to their own community; 3) responsible leadership of the MILF must regain control, which explains that lawless elements led by Bravo, Kato and Pangalian shall respect by controlling any attack they intend to commit while the peace negotiation is going on.

The Secretary reiterated that the renegade leaders mentioned still have to answer for the crimes they committed last August 18 atrocity if and then the peace negotiation pushes through. (lvg/PIA Iligan City)


Christians and Muslims in Mindanao urged to unite this Christmas season

ICC GENERAL SANTOS CITY (9 December)---Task Force Salaam Federation of General Santos City (TF Salaam-Gensan) urged Filipino Christians and Muslims to unite and keep the peace this Christmas season as the Roman Catholic Church and the Islamic world simultaneously celebrated two important religious occasions.

Catholics around the world on Monday, December 8 celebrated the annual feast of Immaculate Concepcion, while Muslims worldwide marked the Eid’l Adha Hariraya Hajj.

Malacañang declared December 8 as a non-working holiday in Muslim areas in Mindanao.

This solemn occasion of Islamic and Christian holidays fell together in same date only demonstrated the many similarities rather than differences of both religions, a Task Force Salaam official said.

As such, TF Salaam-Gensan – a tri-people organization – called on Mindanaoan Christians and Muslims to unify and work together for the ultimate development of the natural resource-rich southern island.

TF Salaam-Gensan made the call in view of reports that some militant Islamists identified with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Al Khobar extortion-terrorism group were planning to launch attacks in some urban areas of South-Central Mindanao using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Military and police intelligence reports identified the cities of Kidapawan in North Cotabato, Koronadal City in South Cotabato and General Santos City as primary targets.

TF Salaam-Gensan has been involved in conflict prevention and peace building in South Central Mindanao. (PR/PIA SarGen)


Ceasefire still holds in many MILF base commands-GRP CCCH

ICC Cotabato City (09 December) – Mechanisms such as the ceasefire agreement remains in many areas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) under its base commands, Gen. Reynaldo Sealana said.

Sealana, chair of the GRP Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) denies the reported all out war launched by the AFP against the MILF.

Out of 19 MILF base commands in Mindanao, Sealana said, only 3 remain targets of the military operations.

These are the 105th base command in Maguindanao under Umbra Kato, 102nd base command in Lanao del Norte under Abdullah Macapaar alias Commander Bravo and Commander Solaiman Pangalian of the 103rd base command in Lanao Del Sur, Sealana said.

He said, the three base commands have been declared as “no ceasefire zones.”

These past days, general situation in many parts of the region has been relatively peaceful except for the series of bomb explosions in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat province and Maguindanao.

Gen. Sealana said, all indicators point to MILF’s involvement in bomb-making and the planting of the improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The official believes that the bombing incidents in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao were carried out by students of the suspected Bangladeshi bomb expert who was arrested earlier by the authorities. (pbc/PIA Cot. City)


ANAD denounces, condemns CPP-NPA-NDF human rights abuse vs. Filipino people

ICC Iligan City (10 Dec 2008) – The Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD), an aggrupation of pro-democracy and pro-government organizations in the country, strongly denounces and condemns the Maoist communist-terrorist Communist Party of the Philippine-New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) for allegedly committing a series of human right violations against the Filipino people.

This was disclosed today by Major Benedicto S Manquiquis, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Civil Military Operations Units (CMOU) of the Civil Military Operations Group (CMOG) of the Philippine Army, saying that ANAD described the CPP-NPA-NDF as true violators of human rights and as real transgressors of people’s right under a free and democratic society.

Major Manquiquis said the ANAD press statement was released by their command as the Filipino nation joins with the international community in today’s worldwide celebration of the International Human Rights Day.

The military spokesman said that for almost 40 years the CPP-NPA-NDF continuously, skillfully and expertly manipulated the sentiments of the many Filipino to fight the free and democratic government and without any hesitation and left-up, stifled the rule of law in this country.

He said ANAD believes that with these glaring rights violation by Maoist communist terrorists, a strong condemnation by the Filipino people, due to their inhuman and un-Filipino actions, is a must for all Filipinos.

The ANAD also calls on each and every freedom loving Filipino to rise and join in their call to peaceable expose and oppose the Maoist communist-terrorist acts of the CPP-NPA-NDF and all of their legal front organizations, including their party-groups like the Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis, Gabriela, Suara Bangsa Moro, and Anak Bayan among others, the military spokesman added. (RTD/PIA Marawi)


Army captures 3 lawless MILF members

ICC Iligan City -- Operating troops belonging to the 8th Infantry Battalion under the command of Lt. Col Eric C. Vinoya captured three suspected Moro rebels believed to be members of the Lawless Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Group (LMG) during an encounter Tuesday afternoon (December 2) at Sitio Lihan, Kaizar village in the town of Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte province.

Lt. Col Agane C. Adriatico, spokesperson of the Advance Command Post of the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division, Philippine Army, said the firefight ensued when the Army soldiers of the 1st Platoon, 8IB Charlie Company were scouring the area to confirm the reported sightings of undetermined number of fully armed group harboring at the said barangay.

Adriatico revealed no one was killed on the side of the operating units.

However, he said five of their men were reported wounded during the encounter and they were identified as: Pfc Hosine Michael C. Salonga, Pfc Ahma Rawas Abedulla, Pfc francis Ian C. Molijon, Pfc Hulasman I. Acob, and Pvt Aldazer I. Baid.

Meanwhile, Adriatico said three captured LMGs were identified by LTC Vinoya as Julumodin Emam, Sangali Tabuacar, and Samin Sarif. The captured LMG members were turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) for proper disposition and appropriate filing of criminal charges, added Adriatico.

Likewise, Adriatico also said that the operating troops recovered at the encounter area the following: one improvised RPG with ammunition; two live ammunition of caliber 30; different empty ammunition cartridges; one sack of rice and assorted canned goods and food supplies.

Adriatico further said intelligence reports also indicated that the enemy suffered one killed and five others were wounded according to the accounts of some civilians who saw the wounded LMGs being dragged by their comrades. (RTD/PIA Marawi)


Basilan Agri Extension Workers trained on Palay Check System, Veggies & Root Crops Techno (TOT)

ICC Cotabato City (09 December) – The Department of Agriculture & Fisheries – ARMM in coordination with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI-ARMM) successfully conducted the 6th day Trainers Training on Palay Check System plus Vegetable & Root Crops Techno Updates in Isabela City, Basilan recently.

The various topics discussed in the training were Overview of the Rice Industry in the Philippines-Provincial self-sufficiency Program for 2009, GMA Rice Programs (FIELDS), Crop & Nutrient Establishment, Minus One Element Technique (MOET), Use of Leaf Color Chart (LCC) and water, pest and Harvest Management.

The participants were briefed on the concepts & principles and Strategies in Establishing Palayamanan in the PFS Sites/Communities, Boimass Management & Utilization using Microbial-based Inoculants, Trichoderma & Vermicomposing and the vegetables &Root Crops Industry Situationer (Current level of Production, Trends & Prospects, Factors Affecting Vegetable and Root Crop Production).

DAF-ARMM Secretary Keise T. Usman said that the training was substantial to fast tract implementation of various banner programs of the department. It will also help the region’s MAOs and ATs to be updated on the current agricultural technologies and trends to cope with the current supply and demand in the agri-fishery sector.

He added that the training would also help the MOAs and ATs to impart their acquired knowledge to their farmers effectively and efficiently.

ATI-ARMM OIC Center Director Vadreya M. Solaiman said that the activity was part of the series of trainings for Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAO) and Agricultural Technologies (ATs) in preparation to the nationwide Farmers Field School (FFS) in ARMM.

More than forty MAOs and ATs from Basilan province headed by Provincial Agricultural Officer Abdulhan Sabdani and Provincial Agriculturist Abdulcarim Hairin participated the said training.
The program is in support to the FIELDS Program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and DA Secretary Arthur Yap for food security and sufficiency. (Joven Mark T. Mapait/PIA Cot. City)