Sultan to MILF rebels: Do not return to South Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY — "Don’t dare to return."

This was the warning of Sultan Datu Nasser Sambuto Pendatun, the newly crowned sultan of the Sultanate of Talik, to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim separatist rebel group in southern Philippines.

"We do not want you in South Cotabato. The people here are living peacefully. Ayaw namin ng gulo (We don’t want trouble)," Sultan Pendatun told The STAR in an interview at his house here yesterday.

He also warned the MILF rebels not to establish satellite camps in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Tacurong and Koronadal.

The territory of the Sultanate of Talik covers towns, cities and provinces within the Socsksargen area.

Sultan Pendatun, who is also the current administrative officer of the South Cotabato Police Office, issued the statement after residents and officials of Barangay Polonuling in Tupi, South Cotabato, reportedly met with him.

"Natatakot pa rin sila na baka bumalik daw yung mga (They are still afraid of the return of the...) MILF rebels sa kanilang lugar (in their places) after the military dismantled their satellite campss," Sultan Pendatun said.

Last Friday, heavily-armed troops of the Army’s 27th infantry battalion, led by Lt. Colonel Carlos Quita, raided and dismantled the MILF satellite camp in Sitio Bunawan, barangay Polonuling, Tupi.

The Army troops destroyed the structures and barricades and covered the fox holes and trenches found inside the satellite camp.

Sultan Pendatun said he will "do the necessary thing" as head of the Sultanate of Talik and as a police official if the MILF rebels will not listen to him.

"Hindi appropriate na magkaroon ng MILF camp inside Socsksargen area dahil tahimik na namumuhay ang mga tao dito. (It’s not appropriate for the MILF to have a camp inside Socskargen because the people here are living peacefully.) Both Christians and Muslims here are sustaining and nurturing peace at ayaw namin masira," Sultan Pendatun said. — Ramil Bajo