House asks military to investigate MILF training camp

MANILA, Philippines—The House of Representatives Bangsamoro committee asked the military to investigate the presence of a training camp of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Iligan City that supposedly violated the ceasefire agreement with the government.

In a letter dated March 24, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez wrote to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) about reports that MILF was “strategically positioning itself by establishing an MILF training camp at Sitio Limunsodan in Barangay Rogongon, Iligan City.”

The letter is addressed to Maj. Gen. Cesar Lactao, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, and AFP chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.

Rodriguez, chair of the ad hoc Bangsamoro committee, said the set-up of a training camp was in violation of the ceasefire agreement with the government when both parties signed a peace deal that sought to be implemented with the passage of the Bangsamoro basic bill.

Rodriguez said the report on an MILF training camp was brought up by Col. Gilbert Gapay, commander of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade in Lanao del Norte, during a local peace and order council meeting.

READ: Gov’t probes MILF training camp in Iligan City

“The sitio is very strategically located in that it can be reached via Talakag, a Bukidnon town next to Cagayan de Oro,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the presence of a training camp not only violated the peace process, it may also be an “illegal incursion of the MILF in Iligan City.”

“May I request the Armed Forces of the Philippines to investigate the matter especially considering that the barangay is outside the ARMM area and this may be a violation of the ceasefire agreement; that this may be an illegal incursion of the MILF in Iligan city; that this may intimidate the Christian and indigenous peoples in the area, and that this has affected the peace of mind of people from Iligan City,” Rodriguez said.

The solon also feared that because there was a nearby police station in Barangay Tag-ibo, “the presence of MILF forces in the area could result in a volatile situation which could easily spark another untoward incident.”

Rodriguez told the military to report to the House about the matter on or before April 6.

The House is wary of possible implications of the passage of the Bangsamoro basic bill after its main benefactor, the MILF, got involved in the Jan. 25 botched incident in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao that resulted in the deaths of 44 Special Action Force commandos, 18 MILF fighters and five civilians.

The Bangsamoro bill seeks to implement the government peace deal to create a more politically autonomous Bangsamoro entity. RC