38 soldiers held in Lanao Sur MILF camp

Simple miscommunication, says govenrnment ceasefire panel 

MANILA, Philippines —    The government ceasefire panel dismissed as ”a simple case of miscommunication” an incident wherein 38 troopers of the Army’s Special Forces were briefly held by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Maguing, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday night.

The Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) said the situation has been resolved.

The soldiers were released following the intervention of the government and MILF ceasefire panels on Wednesday afternoon.

The soldiers were reportedly disarmed as they passed through the MILF-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) camp during an operation against New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

“To ensure the safety of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) troops, the MILF-BIAF provided the troopers a safe space to spend the night on Feb. 7 and to effect the established procedures with the joint ceasefire mechanisms,” the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said in a statement.

The Army soldiers “safely returned to their home base after the situation was peacefully settled,” OPAPRU said.

The government peace panel said the incident “is another testament of the parties’ high regard for the peace process and tolerance that prevented possible untoward incident.”

“The deep understanding of the peace process and the ceasefire guidelines were instrumental in its swift resolution,” it added.

The Army said the troops were subjected only to a verification process, noting that some NPA rebels pretend to be soldiers when passing through the MILF camp.

Col. Michele Anayron Jr. of the 403rd Infantry Brigade said the soldiers were not disarmed as they ”willingly” gave their guns. – John Unson