Soldiers take 'MILF town' of Munai

By BONG GARCIA Jr.
TODAY Reporter

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Government forces have taken full control of Munai, Lanao del Norte, following an artillery barrage and aerial assault since Saturday afternoon, a ranking military official said here Monday. Military authorities believe it is the center of terrorist operations in Lanao del Norte.

The artillery fire and aerial bombardment were launched Saturday afternoon following President Arroyo’s order for the Armed Forces to go after “embedded terrorists cells.” The target terrorists are those “embedded” with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Senators voiced concern over inevitable civilian casualties in the “selective aerial and artillery attacks.”

Majority Leader Loren Legarda described the President’s order for a “selective” attack on the rebels’ lair as just a “subterfuge for an all-out war that would hit noncombatants.”

Sens. Gregorio Honasan and Panfilo Lacson said that it would be impossible to avoid hitting civilians even with “selective tragetting.”

Meanwhile, peace groups, while asking the rebel group and the government to consider declaring a cease-fire, criticized the President’s “attack order,” saying it indicated the government’s “scarcity of will and vision” for Mindanao.

The peace activists said the administration should instead be addressing the root causes of the Mindanao problem, by giving the region its basic needs.

“What we get are crumbs from the national budget, seasonal humanitarian aid for our displaced brethren, countless reform and development plans in power point,” the peace activists said.

The peace network is composed of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and the Bishop-Ulama Conference.

Maj. Gen. Roy Kyamko, chief of the Armed Forces Southern Command, said that the joint elements of the Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade and Task Force Diamond have taken over and reestablished government control Monday on the municipality of Munai -- believed to be the center of terrorist operations in Lanao del Norte.

However, only a portion in the outskirts of Munai town was occupied by the MILF. The place served as the camp, the biggest in Lanao, of Abdulah Macapaar alias Commander Bravo, and Commander Yanyah Lacsadatu.

“Backed by aerial and artillery fires, ground forces have secured [the outskirts of] Munai -- the known residence of Macapaar and Lacsadatu,” Kyamko told Today.

Munai town falls under the political boundary of Lanao del Norte, but it is situated in the border toward the province of Lanao del Sur.

Kyamko said the military and local government officials led by Munai town Mayor Cassan Macquiling are working for the organized return of displaced residents to Munai for them to harvest their crops.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who hails from Mindanao, has received reports that more than 300,000 refugees have fled the civilian communities.

He reiterated his proposal to ask the United States to broker peace in the region.

Maj. Gen. Tifronio Salazar, chief of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, on Monday placed the military forces on on alert.

Salazar revealed that rebels fleeing from pursuing troops in Zamboanga del Norte are trying to break through military positions stationed in the boundary of the same province with Zamboanga Sibugay and this city. With B. Fernandez, M. Cayon