ICC Dispatch - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Cotabato governor calls on LMG to stop hostilities

ICC Cotabato City - Some lawless MILF groups (LMG) continuously harassing remote areas in Cotabato province the past days.

Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan said, armed with high power firearms, the LMG recently attacked barangay Dado Alamada town where a civilian was killed.

The governor said, he is calling on these groups to stop their violent activities.

“Nakiuap na ako doon sa mga local forces, friendly forces na huwag na lang sanang magkaroon pa ng harassment para we can start the new year peacefully at hindi maapektuhan ang hanapbuhay ng mga tao,” Sacdalan said.

Governor Sacdalan said he believes that through these harassments, the LMG is conveying a message to the government to resume the peace talks soon.

Meanwhile, Sacdalan reported the gradual return of the evacuees to their respective places of original and start a new life.

Those whose houses were burned were extended necessary assistance for the construction of new ones, the governor said.

Last Dec. 24, the officials said, a dialogue was conducted at barangay Tubak, Pagangan, Pikit, in connection with the return of 478 families of their respective places of origin.

He promised to visit them this January to personally see and assess actual number and extent of the houses that were burned during the August 2008 LMG attack. (PBC/PIA 12)


Political and religious sectors hail “cross-section” GRP panel

ICC Cotabato City - Political and religious communities hail the “cross-section” composition of the newly reconstituted GRP panel.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said that the new peace panel Malacañang will establish to resume talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will not just be represented by different sectors but will be assisted by a multi-sectoral “panel of advisers” as well.

Southern Mindanao political and religious leaders expressed belief that this development will hasten the GRP-MILF talks.

Auxiliary bishop of the Cotabato Diocese Monsigñor Jose Colin Bagaforo said they will support such concept of a negotiating panel where all stakeholders to the peace process would be give enough representation.

Being involved in various peace-building projects and inter-faith dialogues in Central Mindanao, Bagaforo said, the Bishops-Ulama Conference of the Philippines, and other organizations of Christian and Islamic religious leaders will not hesitate to help in the GRP-MILF talks.

As this developed, ARMM regional governor Zaldy Ampatuan expressed his deepest gratitude for having been tapped as one of the advisers of the new GRP peace panel.

Ampatuan said, he is elated to be given a role in the GRP-MILF talks.

“I will see to it that the ARMM’s represetative to the GRP-MILF negotiations can speak well of the real position of all the region’s six provincial governors and more than 100 mayors,” Ampatuan said.

Earlier, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. Announced that RG Ampatuan would be tapped as one of the advisers of the new GRP panel. (PBC/PIA12)