10,000 troops to secure Bangsamoro plebiscite, ‘problematic areas’ in Mindanao
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 08 Jan 2019 08:33:52 +0000
ABOUT 10,000 soldiers were deployed in Cotabato City to secure the upcoming plebiscite of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on January 21, with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) identifying the “problematic areas” in Mindanao.
In a news conference on Tuesday, Lorenzana named Cotabato City, Isabela City in Basilan and six areas in Lanao del as “problematic” because of the “conflicting aspirations of their leaders.”
“That will be the challenges plus the barangay (villages) in Cotabato,” Lorenzana told reporters after the traditional New Year’s call in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The Defense chief also disclosed that he and Peace Process Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., a former AFP chief, went to Cotabato City and talked to the leaders in the area, including Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, Rep. Bai Sandra Sema of Maguindanao and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chief of Staff Sammy Gambar.
Lorenzana said Sayadi claimed that the MILF was “terrorizing” the city into voting “yes” to the BOL while some were saying that political groups were accusing each other of illegal acts.
“Our agreement is that there will be no threats to be thrown at each other, nobody will intimidate anybody and all the leaders there, including the MILF and the sitting mayor, have to assure the people that they will be able to vote without intimidation, without fear and whatever the decision is, it has to be respected,” Lorenzana said.
Although Isabela City is not part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Lorenzana said the national government would determine if the area was willing to be part of the BOL.
Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., the AFP chief of staff, said the military has deployed 10,000 soldiers “on the ground” with “follow-on forces in case there would be a need” to boost security during the plebiscite.
Lorenzana said the military division handling Cotabato City would be needing additional forces.
Cotabato City is under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division, headed by Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, and the Western Mindanao Command of the AFP, led by Lt. Gen. Arnel de la Vega. DEMPSEY REYES
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