Social action directors fear violence in ARMM polls

The Social Action Directors of the ecclesiastical province of Dipolog, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Iligan and Marawi had expressed fears for the coming elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that this may bring peace and order problems due to unsolved killings and unpredictable moves of  a Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander.

In a statement in the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Fr. Zacharias Montefalcon, Ozamiz social action director, said  that DOPIM social action directors met in the afternoon of July 10, at Movers for Peace, Bañadero, Ozamiz City where Marawi social action director Fr. Jovit Malinao said Marawi City residents expressed fears due to the coming ARMM election.

Malinao said there were still unsolved killings and rare kidnappings in the ARMM area and people are afraid of a possible conflict that may arise because of the unpredictable moves of MILF Commander Bravo and the reported sighting of a “spy plane” in the area.

The DOPIM social action directors’ meeting was attended by Fr. Albert Bael of Dipolog, Fr. Zachariaz Montefalcon of Ozamiz, Abeth Montiza of Pagadian, Fr. Albert Mendez of Iligan and Fr. Jovit Malinao from the Prelature of Marawi.

The DOPIM social action directors had urged the local government of ARMM, and  the Philippine National Police,  to investigate the unsolved killings in the area and move to resolve current tensions relative to the coming ARMM polls.

Montefalcon said  that as agreed by the DOPIM social action directors, they will regularly meet once every two months in order to assess and evaluate their program of activities and discuss issues and concerns of their respective areas.