| Wounded MILF docks in Davao shoreline |
| Written by Eldie S. Aguirre | |
| Saturday, 23 August 2008 | |
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The military and the police are placed in full alert as the gathered intelligence reports that two pump boats ferrying undetermined number of suspected MILF rebels docked at the shorelines of two coastal villages in Jose Abad Santos town in Davao del Sur.
Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, 39th Infantry Battalion (IB) commanding officer in a telephone interview said he already alerted a military detachment in Barangay Botulan and elements of the 72nd Infantry Battalion (IB) which is also under his control and supervision.
“As of now, we are still conducting verification if those who landed onboard two pump boats at Barangay Sugal at dawn of Friday are MILF rebels or elements of other groups,” Paniza said on Saturday morning.
Information reaching the military also reported another group that landed in Barangay Camalian of the same town.
Paniza suspected they could be wounded MILF rebels seeking medical attention banking on information that some of its passengers were placed on stretchers while disembarking from the boats.
“If that’s the case, we will accommodate them as they are also our fellow Filipino brothers. As long as they will not initiate trouble, we welcome them to our area of responsibility,” Paniza said.
The military commander said it is possible that the group came from the war-torn Central Mindanao and make their way to Cebuley, South Cotabato down to Maitum and Jose Abad Santos town in Davao del Sur.
“If their purpose is just to seek refuge at their relatives in Jose Abad Santos to avoid involvement in the ongoing war in Central Mindanao, we will give them chance to do so for we understand their situation,” Paniza said over the phone.
In an earlier interview, Paniza announced he will grant safe conduct pass to wounded MILF rebels seeking medical attention in his area of responsibility provided they would not carry firearms and will not initiate trouble that could create panic among the residents of Davao del Sur.
“But if Kumander Kato is with them, that's another story. We have to get him since he is now wanted for committing various cases in court,” Paniza said.
On the other hand, Senior Supt. Cesario Darantinao, Davao del Sur police director deployed the police mobile group (PMG) at the government center in Jose Abad Santos to react for any eventualities.
Sugal is four coastal villages away from Barangay Camalian.
Mayor Alexander Wangkay said they are constantly monitoring the situation and ordered police to be vigilant at all times to protect the lives and properties of the people in Jose Abad Santos.
Marlon Gayog, the town’s information officer said some residents feared that fighting would erupt in their area if the military and the police could prove that those who docked at the shorelines of their villages are really MILF rebels.
However, Nancing Medel, JAS deputy mayor and a resident of Sugal vehemently denied the reports saying it was a group of Sangil tribesmen from Sarangani Island that landed in the shorelines of Sugal.
“It was just hearsays,” Medel said, “Those are Sangil tribesmen doing some presentation with the fellow tribal group in the area.”
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