Maguindanao mayors seek military intervention in MILF problem

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — Eight mayors in the second district of Maguindanao urged the Army’s 6th Infantry Division yesterday to immediately intervene on what they consider as "unusual movements" of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas in their respective towns since Saturday.

The mayors — Ali Midtimbang of Talayan, Saudi Ampatuan Jr. of Saudi Ampatuan, Andal Ampatuan Jr. of Datu Unsay, Acmad Ampatuan of Mamasapano, Antao Midtimbang of Guindulungan, Samer Uy of Datu Piang, Anwar Ampatuan of Shariff Aguak, and Rasul Sangki of Ampatuan, also furnished President Arroyo a copy of their letter to the 6th ID’s commander, Major Gen. Agustin Dema-ala.

The local executives described as "very disturbing and provocative" the actions of the roaming armed MILF fighters in areas supposedly covered by the ceasefire.

The rebels, according to the eight mayors, were even seen converging near roadside Army and police checkpoints, as if trying to provoke hostilities.

The local officials told Dema-ala they are worried the tension now gripping their towns would escalate into bigger troubles.

Highly-placed members of the Maguindanao provincial peace and order council said the petition of the mayors for Dema-ala to immediately act on the security concern was triggered by Saturday’s attempt by more than a hundred MILF rebels to stop the construction of 10-kilometer road that would traverse their camp in a hinterland barangay in Datu Unsay.

The Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion, which has jurisdiction over Datu Unsay and nearby towns, said that tension worsened when hundreds of rebels occupied on Sunday Hills 224 and 590, both overlooking portions of the farm-to-market road being built jointly by the provincial government and the office of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan.