MILF 'arsonist' nabbed in N. Cotabato
A Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) member allegedly involved in civilian attacks in Midsayap town, North Cotabato province last year has been arrested, the military announced Saturday.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Smawtin Basilan, member of the MILF's 105th Base Command, was arrested by joint police and military teams from his home in Barangay Nabalawag, Midsayapat around 9 a.m. on September 2.
The AFP said Basilan has a P600,000 bounty on his head for a case of arson filed before the Midsayap Regional Trial Court, Branch 24.
It said Basilan was among the MILF members, led by rogue commander Ameril Umbra Kato, who raided villages in Midsayap town on August 2008.
The attacks resulted in fierce gunfights between the rebels and military, which left over 300 people dead and at least 750,000 villagers displaced.
Kato and his group are facing more than 100 other criminal cases including robbery, serious illegal detention, grave coercion and violation of the anti-cattle rustling law, which they allegedly committed during the attacks.
The MILF group raided North Cotabato towns after the failed signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the Muslim separatist group and the government. With a report from Noel Alamar, radio dzMM
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US troops
Does the capabilities of the Philippine army mean an American military presence is no longer necessary in Mindanao? An article just posted at asiachroniclenews.com looks at this.
arsonist release
Independence is possible in Mindanao, kung pagbibigyan ng government ang kahilingan ng mga kapatid nating Muslim, hindi dadanak ang dugo sa mindanao kung matagal n anilang binigay ito, coz kung babalikan natin ang history ng Pilipinas the original people living in the philippine is Muslims, but noong dumating ang mga kastila pinilit nila ang mga muslim na maging chiristian if not they will kill, so don't say na kayang pulbusin ng Government ang ABUSAYAF COZ they are the origin.Regarding MILF in Mindanao are you sure na sila ang nanunug ng mga bahay sa North Cotabato kasi sa pagkakaalam ko that is againts the law of MILF, they are impliminting islamic law, who will breach this law will be punishable for life, you don't know the situation over there!at ang medya of course pagtatakpan nila ung mga katiwalian ng Military kasi Government sila eh, pangit naman cguro ung ipalabas nila sa news na mga Military Nanunug ng bahay ng civilian, of course pagbibintangan nila mga rebelde.so you have no ryt to say anything bad to Muslims unless kung andoon ka mismo sa pinangyarihan.
arsonist release
The problem of Mindanao can't be resolve unless the goverment should strictly implement the basic laws of the land ,Mindanao is a part of the philippines and nobody can claim of its soveriegnty,they were given autonomy for the past how many years and still they are fighting themselves.Therefore thier motive is to have full independence which is impossible.The goverment should not lay low in implementing peace in Mindanao by pursuing to iliminate radicals muslim brothers killing civilian, kidnapping, and terrorizong the citezenry.This Abu Sayyap ,why until now they are still in existing,how mcuh force they have comparing to our military's capability to powder this bandits.Why some captured abu sayyap scaped from prison ,why it takes years and years to sentence this bandits in court.No matter existing peace process ,this bandits should be put in jail for thier crime committed.
VIOLATION OF THE PEACE PROCESS
The AFP must release the captured MILF arsonist Smawtin Basilan immediately or they will be charge with violation of the peace process and may cause the MILF to leave the negotiation table.