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MILF REPORT:
ON GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES (GRP)CONTINUING INDISCRIMINATE MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THEMORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT AND THE BANGSAMORO PEOPLE,RECORDED ARMED ENCOUNTERS AND HOSTILITIES IN THE PROVINCES OFMAGUINDANAO, COTABATO, SULTAN KUDARAT AND SARANGGANIFROM JULY 1, 2008 – JUNE 16, 2009andTHE PREVAILING GROUND AND IDPs SITUATION
The indiscriminate and relentless military offensives by the Government of theRepublic of the Philippines (GRP) utilizing its entire armed forces against the MoroIslamic Liberation Front (MILF) while the peace talks between the two parties were in thestage of culminating the signing of the GRP-MILF Memorandum of Agreement onAncestral Domain (MOA-AD) started on July 1, 2008 in Sitio Tubak, Pagangan, a villageresided by native MILF members, in Aleosan, Cotabato.Clashes, hostilities and violence had escalated unavoidably, blew out of proportion, and adversely affected other provinces in Mindanao, particularlyMaguindanao, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Saranggani, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan andZamboanga peninsula, the following month of August, catapulted by governmentindiscriminate and disproportional military offensives option against the active defensiveand guerilla counter-offensives by the Bangasmoro Islamic Armed Forces – Moro IslamicLiberation Front (MILF). The government military campaign option has apparently putthe ceasefire mechanisms in jeopardy, peace talks in limbo and the peace process in thecollapse.It must be pointed out that it was on August 8, 2008 that the Philippinegovernment started its military campaign against MILF forces and Bangsamoro civiliancommunities in a disproportional manner further aggravated by its imposing collectivepunishment without the valid ground but in the pretext of lame alibi for law enforcementeven at the expense of scuttling the peace process. Thus far, there is no clear indicationthat this military campaign and onslaught will be averted soon, a situation that does notaugur well to a disposition of serious and honorable gambit by the government topeacefully resolve the sovereignty-based, politically-rooted centuries–old Mindanaoconflict and Bangsamoro problem.Note that the government declaration for military offensives came barely threedays after the aborted signing of the initialed GRP-MILF Memorandum of Agreement on
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Ancestral Domain slated on August 5, 2008 in Malaysia. It was unfortunately aborted dueto the government’s reneged on obligation capped by the controversial prematureintervention of the Philippine Supreme Court by issuing express order restraining thegovernment peace panel to proceed with the scheduled signing of the already initialedMOA-AD.These days, government hard hand offensives and military carnage blatantlydevoid of adherence and respect to international humanitarian laws, laws of war, andinternally recognized human rights had been bolstered though being done intermittentlybut again appearing to continue indefinitely. In fact, based on governmentpronouncements, AFP is bracing up for more intensified operations against the MILF andthe Bangsamoro people.Recalling that the government argued the military operations was launched as amatter of law enforcement obligation directed against identified three military basecommands of the BIAF – MILF, (105
th
, 102
nd
and 103
rd
Base Commands), which thegovernment said are under rouge commanders that attacked civilian communities in theprovinces of Cotabato, Lanao del Norte and Saranggani.But that insistence of the government as basis for military operations will lose theground to stand on if an impartial investigation to be led by the International MonitoringTeam (IMT) and government – MILF ceasefire committee could have been undertakenwithin the context of the GRP – MILF peace process. The MILF, for its part, insisted theconduct of an immediate impartial investigation on the purported case in order to findout the truth and allow the peace process to take its due course without undueinterruption. Perhaps, the position of the MILF was not given a chance because animpartial investigation would result to the deconstruction of the government notion,which in fact is but a matter of lame alibi to justify its military action that until now jeopardizes the peace process and rendered hundreds of thousands civilians, mostlyMuslims, immense sufferings and social divides along ancestral domain, racial andreligious lines.Thus, the worst unfortunate consequence was created on the ground since lastquarter of last year. A humanitarian disaster had came to fore, which the internationalhumanitarian institutions, United Nations specialized agencies and non-governmentalorganizations had confirmed as early as October last year. Since then, sad to say, thesevere, if not inhuman, brunt of this humanitarian tragedy devastated our people’s lives,liberty, properties in a state beyond comparison.
For the month of July 2008July 01, 2008
More or less 150 government soldiers belonging to 40 Infantry Battalion(IB), 6
th
Infantry Division (ID), Philippine Army (PA) together with some elementsof the Civilian Armed Forces Geographic Units (CAFGUs) attacked the MILF forcesat Sitio Tubak, Barangay Pagangan, Aleosan, Cotabato on mere allegation thatthe MILF were massing up its forces at the area. There was no truth to theallegation as only some 20 MILF forces were based in the area and they are all
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natives or local residents of Tubak. These MILF forces under CommanderMustapha of the 105
th
Base Command were tending their farms at Tubak andunarmed when attacked by the composite forces of the government. Sitio Tubakis about 2.5 kilometers away from the national highway. Commander IsmaelManalapas, first cousin of Commander Ta, came to reinforce Commander Ta withhis more or less 30 forces. Ismael is a unit commander under National the GuardBased Command of the BIAF – MILF based at Barangay Bualan, Pikit, Cotabato.Tubak and Bualan share borders. At 1pm, the ceasefire was enforced withoutcasualty inflicted on both sides.
July 14, 2008
Some farmers and members of armed Civilian Volunteers organizations(CVOs) of Barangay Bago Libas, Aleosan while planting rice at lower Bago Libaswere allegedly fired upon by unidentified armed elements. The farmersimmediately suspected the group of Commander Ta as the perpetrators. ButCommander Ta had denied any knowledge and involvement on the said incident.No firefight took place but the farming activities were hampered. Sitio Tubak,where Commander Ta and his men are holding positions, is approximately two (2)kilometers up high overlooking the paddy fields at lower Bago Libas.
July 15, 2008
Farmers and civilians of Bago Libas went back at lower Bago Libas tocontinue with their farming chores. But due to the alleged strafing incident onJuly 14 against them, around 40 armed CVOs went ahead in the area to conductclearing operations and provide security for the farmers. Unfortunately the armedCVOs had reached the most advance observation or listening post / perimeterdefense of Commander Ta at Sitio Tubak while doing the clearing patrol. Thistriggered a firefight between the armed farmers and CVO of Bagolibas and thegroup of Commander Ta from 10am and until 4pm. No casualty on the side of theMILF during the firefight. On the other side, two (2) got killed and three (3) weremissing in action, to include the Chief of Police of Aleosan, who got involved in thefray. The ceasefire committees and IMT had intervened through phone lines andmanaged to effect ceasefire and separation of forces. In the evening, the threemissing persons had safely returned to bases.
July 22, 2008
At around 10am, firefight erupted at Sitio New Valencia, Bualan betweenthe group of Cmdrs Ta and Ismael against the group of Catalan. No casualty wasreported.On the other hand, at around 3pm of the same day, some Christianfarmers of Barangay Pagangan Sitio 2, Aleosan, Cotabato were locked in afirefight with forces of Commander Ta that resulted to the death of certainROQUITA CALARASA, 61 years old and a resident of the said Sitio, and woundingof certain GEMMA CALARASA, daughter in law of Roquita. The two civilians werereportedly caught in the crossfire.
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