Lanao Norte put on alert for possible MILF attacks

COTABATO CITY—Moro gunmen have moved out of Pantao Ragat town in Lanao del Norte, but the police and military still placed the entire province on alert for possible attacks.

Lacson Lantud, vice mayor of Pantao Ragat town, told the Inquirer by phone on Sunday that no representative from the government nor from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) came to their town to help them resolve the security problem.

“It looks like they were ignoring our situation here,” Lantud said.

He said a team from the Malaysian International Peace Monitor went to the provincial capitol, but instead of helping ease the situation they asked to take custody of Majid Abuat, the MILF commander that was arrested for alleged kidnapping.

“The rebels withdrew, but it does not mean it’s OK now,” he said.

Lantud earlier reported of an “impending attack” by some 700 armed followers of Bravo, an MILF field commander.

Bravo, whose real name is Abdullah Macapaar, was the same senior MILF commander who led attacks in the two Lanao provinces in 2008 following the scuttling of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the government and the MILF. The Supreme Court struck the deal as unconstitutional.

Lantud said according to “reports,” Bravo was “planning to raid” the municipality to rescue a comrade who was captured following the abduction of a teacher and her husband three days ago.

The situation in the town started on June 18 when Bravo’s men seized public school teacher Aslaime Pangader and her husband Nait as they were heading home on a motorcycle.

Authorities considered it a crime and went after the abductors, capturing Majid Abuat. But Lantud said Bravo considered the seizure of the Pangader couple an “arrest” by the MILF because they owed someone in another town some money that needed to be paid back.

Lantud said prior to the massing up of Bravo’s men, the MILF leader demanded Abuat’s release but this was denied.

Col. Madid Paitao, police chief of Lanao del Norte, said they could not just release Abuat since he has pending multiple murder charges.

“He is now detained at the provincial jail. We need a court order before we turn him over to any group,” he said.

Butch Malang, chief of the MILF coordinating committee on cessation of hostilities, said they already sent men to talk to Bravo’s men.

“The issue about Bravo’s issuance of arrest warrant is now being investigated,” he said. Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao