COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/01 July) -- The spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division has claimed that internally displaced persons are “enemy reserve forces” and that relief goods for them have been diverted for use by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
But the government peace panel says civilians are victims and should not be treated as enemies.
This, as Maguindanao administrator Engr. Norie Unas said the military should not be surprised if some relief goods fall in the hands of the MILF. “No Maguindanaoan can lay claim na walang kamag-anak sa MILF group” because the MILF members are “all or mostly from Maguindanao, born and raised here.”
Datu Michael Mastura, MILF peace panel senior member, said Wednesday that if the assumption is that “civilians (are) lumped with MILF… then the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) is in the dark as to the role as protector of the people,” he said, adding that the Constitution provides that the AFP is “protector of the people and of the state so since they are the ones alienating the civilian population,” this will make residents think they are an “occupying force.”
“They are occupying our homeland. They are alien to our people, alien to our ancestral domain,” he said.
But government peace panel chair Rafael Seguis said, also on Wednesday, that “we are really deeply concerned” about the IDP situation.
“From the beginning, we have been concerned. Government has been assisting the IDPs… Although some people claim that majority of these IDPs are constituents of the MILF, but for us, they are Filipinos just like us,” Seguis told Mindanao and Manila-based participants of the three-day "State of the Bakwits" joint coverage.
“We really want to help the IDPs…. We would like them to return to their villages… They should be allowed to return to their villages and live normally,” said Seguis, who hails from Surigao in the northeastern part of Mindanao.
Asked about the allegations of the military spokesperson that IDPs are “enemy reserve force,” lawyer Camilo Montessa, Peace Process undersecretary and peace panel spokesperson, immediately replied, “that is not the official government line.”
“The IDPs are not the MILF. They are not the enemy. They are not combatants. They are the concern of this government,” Montessa added.
He said they would take up the military spokesperson’s statement with the military.
“But the chair’s position on that is that IDPs can never be part of the enemy… That is the government line,” he said.
Lt.Col. Jonathan Ponce, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division, issued that controversial statement on IDPs as “enemy reserve force” during a media forum with military and civilian officials at the Estosan Garden Hotel here evening of June 30.
Ponce said that “based on the proofs, indications, and observations presented, there seems to be a diversion of relief goods from the supposed ‘IDP’ beneficiaries to the MILF.”
He said 18 “LMG position camps” in Maguindanao are located near IDP sites. The military refers to alleged renegade MILF commanders as “LMG” for “lawless MILF group.”
As “proof” of his allegations, Ponce cited the following in a Powerpoint presentation, that:
“Medical supplies distributed by ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) recovered by the operating troops of 64th IB from overrun MILF/LMG satellite camp at Barangay Butilen, Datu PIang, Maguindanao. (No date mentioned, no other details)..
“Food intended for IDPs slipped out by suspected LMG/MILF supporters from IDP center at Barangay Pagatin, Datu Saudi Ampatuan; (No date mentioned, no specifics re kind of food and how it was “slipped out”).
“Truckload of foodstuff smuggled out by suspected MILF/LMG supporters from IDP center was intercepted by government troops at vicinity of Brgy. Dapiawan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan on 12 March 2009. Five pieces ICRC relief distribution cards inspected by government troops in the possession of suspected MILF/LMG supporter together with truckload of relief goods taken out from Dapiawan IDP center by the subject.
“Capture of Abdubayan Ebrahim Laguilay Magsaysay/Kidsay, Senior Close Associate of Basit Usman (Local Terrorist & JI contact in the Philippines) 21 April 2009. Recovered from Magsaysay’s possession were three ICRC Distribution Cards in the name of Basit Usman. Records show that Basit Usman has already withdrawn sacks of rice, noodles, canned sardines, liters of cooking oil, laundry soap, etc from January to April 09.
“Medical supplies distributed by ICRD to IDP centers recovered by government troops from overrun LMG/MILF satellite camps in Pimbakalan, Penditin, and Dasikil all of Mamasapano, Maguindanao on 22-25 April 2009
Suspected MILF supporters withdrew excessive amount of foodstuff from IDP center in Bgy Madia, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao.”(No date mentioned).
Ponce also listed the following as “indicators” : That “ IDP centers/structures “are occupied only during the time of distribution of relief goods” and that after collecting their goods, “IDPs were nowhere to be found;” That “LMG pose as ‘IDP’. IED recovered at Labu-labu bridge, Bgy Labu-labu, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao on 07 January 2009;” That “LMG terrorist actions are executed within the immediate environs of IDP centers;“ That “Two members of the 54IB personnel were liquidated while posted at Butilen Bridge on 01 March 2009 in Bgy Butilen, Datu Piang, Maguindanao and that Perpetrators merged with the ‘IDPs;” That “attack against area security forces in Bgy Malingao, Shariff Aguak, during the visit of Pres. Arroyo in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao on 27 March 2009 resulting to death of seven military personnel; LMG reinforcements came from nearby IDP Centers;” That “Liquidation attempt against 54IB personnel on 06 April 2009 at vicinity IDP center in Pagatin, DSA, Maguindanao;” That “LMG bombers pose as ‘IDPs’. An IED prematurely exploded at vicinity Butilen bridge on 14 April 2009. Nobody was hurt;” That “A military convoy was ambushed 200 meters away from the IDP centers of Pagatin and Sambulawan on 062050H May 2009. In the immediate counter attack of the engaged troops, the LMG assailants withdrew in the direction towards the 3 IDP Centers in the vicinity.”
Ponce also noted what he perceived to be a disparity between the population in Guindulungan, Mamasapano and Sultan sa Barongis.
As for “observations,” Ponce said: “Foodstuffs and medicines intended for the ‘IDPs’ were recovered at LMG camps and consolidation areas; Consolidation of large LMG forces near IDP centers immediately before during and after scheduled distribution of relief goods; ‘‘IDPs’ only show up at the IDP centers when there are scheduled food distributions. Most of the time, IDP centers are mostly empty or sparsely occupied.; Hostile activities of the LMGs occur after every distribution of food and medical supplies; and No barangay profile.”
Maguindanao hosts the most number of IDPs since August 2008.
As of June 29, 2009, according to the records of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), of which Maguindanao is a member, still has 63,278 families of 318,953 persons displaced while North Cotabato has, according to the Region 12 DSWD, still has 8,384 families of 40,069 persons displaced as of June 25.
All together, as of 29 June, a total of 71,662 families or 359,022 persons have yet to return home.
Of this number, 56,685 families or 286,542 persons are still in the evacuation centers or relatives’ houses. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)
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