Gov’t. to “walk the extra mile” to resolve the forcible occupation by the MILF of some barangays and towns in North Cotabato

The government will “have to walk the extra mile” to resolve the present conflict in North Cotabato brought about by the forcible takeover by some 850 armed men of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) since Sunday of some barangays and towns in the province, displacing some 5,000 individuals.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, in a press briefing in Malacanang this afternoon, said a meeting set at 5 p.m. today between the MILF and the government peace panel ceasefire committee is expected to resolve the issue peacefully.

“This is a clear violation of laws but we have to exhaust all the remedies under the mechanisms of the peace process. There is a 24-hour period allowed by security forces to follow the peace process. There is a ceasefire agreement…before any punitive action will be taken,” Dureza stressed.

Earlier, Dureza said government security forces have given the MILF armed group 24 hours to leave the barangays and towns it has occupied by force in North Cotabato province or face police and military action.

"We are giving individuals 24 hours to vacate otherwise they will forcibly be separated from the area," Local Governments Secretary Ronaldo Puno said in a press conference at the national police headquarters in Camp Crame this morning.

Dureza said the military and the police will take punitive action if the MILF failed to meet deadline.

“This is a clear violation by the MILF of the ceasefire agreement…that their armed elements without prior coordination with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, occupied these civilian areas that include Aleosan and Midsayap,” Dureza said.

He added that the government will take punitive actions to “protect the civilians.”

The press secretary said punitive action means “a surgical, calibrated police action to be supported by the AFP if necessary.”

“This morning up to tomorrow is an opportunity for a peaceful mechanism to succeed,” he stressed.

Dureza said AFP Chief General Alexander Yano was in Cotabato province to brief commanders on the government’s plan of action.

Dureza echoed Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Presidential Adviser Hermogenes Esperon’s view when Dureza said that the government wants to stabilize the situation and put back the rightful owners of those lands.

Dureza has clarified that the proposed government action was not a declaration of war.
“This is not a declaration of war, this is a normal enforcement of the rule of law,” Dureza stressed.