Filipino and American troops have lined up development projects in Lanao del Norte, where government security forces and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels have been clashing over the past two months now.
Col. Benito de Leon, commander of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade based in Iligan City, and US Army Capt. Christian Knutzen and his team met with provincial and local officials led by Gov. Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo last Friday to determine development projects to be undertaken in the province.
It is widely believed that wanted MILF leader Abdurahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo, head of the front’s 105th Base Command, is still hiding in the province, considered the bailiwick of his group which attacked and pillaged five towns, killing more than a dozen of civilians and soldiers, last August.
Knutzen heads the Liaison Coordination Element-1233 based in Marawi City. The unit is directly under the Special Operations Task Force 12 of the US Army.
Knutzen team’s mission in the country is to assist in civil-military projects of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in addition to training local security forces, De Leon said.
During the meeting attended by Lanao del Norte mayors and jointly presided by Gov. Dimaporo and second district Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo in Tubod town, De Leon said the presence of US troops in the province is part of the Philippine-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
For his part, Knutzen said they work through the local military in undertaking projects, which may include construction of roads and school buildings, and medical-dental missions.
He reported that a road improvement package has been recommended for Poona Piagapo, Macapaar’s former enclave and one of the troubled towns in the province.
Such projects, De Leon quoted Knutzen as saying, are expected to help bring peace and development in the area.
Meanwhile, Dimaporo suggested to the Filipino and US troops that they carry out projects that would contribute to stability in his province.
Rep. Dimaporo promised to seek the inclusion of other projects for the province in the national budget pending in Congress.