RP military assures MILF has nothing to worry for conduct of Balikatan in parts of Mindanao

By Ronron
February 3, 2008

The Philippine military assured the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Sunday that it has nothing to worry when civil military operations (CMO) under the 24th RP-US Balikatan Exercises will be conducted in some parts in Mindanao.

Army Maj. Ramon Zagala III, Public Affairs Officer for this year’s Balikatan, said in a radio interview that there will be no war exercises in Mindanao when the large-scale annual exercises begin on February 18 and end on March 3.

“They (MILF) should not worry. There will be no war exercises there. What will be held there are purely medical and engineering capability projects like repairs of school houses and roads that will be beneficial to every Filipino,” Zagala said in Filipino.

Earlier, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. disclosed that among the venues for the Balikatan include Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, Midsayap in North Cotabato, Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-tawi.

The MILF, which is currently talking peace with the government, has control over some areas in central and southwestern Mindanao.

Zagala said yesterday that the actual military exercises, particularly the field training exercises and staff exercises, will just be held in Luzon, including Palawan.

He mentioned Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Subic Bay in Zambales, Basa Airbase in Pampanga, Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, Clark Airfield in Pampanga, and Marine Base in Ternate, Cavite.

In Palawan, the table-top exercise on a coast watch scenario will particularly be held, said Zagala.

“Of course, we will not violate the ongoing peace talks with them (MILF)… So, we will just go to areas that are recommended by the AFP out of respect also to the MILF,” Zagala said.

In fact, he said only 600 American soldiers out of its close to 6,000-strong contingent will be participating in the CMO activities in Mindanao under Balikatan ’08.

“Our objective there in Mindanao is for the good of everyone,” Zagala said.

Sought for comment, MILF Civil-Military Operations chief Eid Kabalu said that while they are not in a position to oppose the conduct of the Balikatan in some parts of Mindanao, they expect the authorities to make proper coordination if some MILF territories will be covered by the Balikatan CMO activities.

“As a policy, we don’t interfere since we look at the matter as internal to the GRP (government of the Republic of the Philippines) and the USA. So long as they will respect us, then no problem,” Kabalu said.

He said that if the Philippine and US military want to conduct CMO activities in MILF areas, they must coordinate with the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).

Peace talks between the government and the MILF hit an impasse in December last year after the two parties failed to agree on the ancestral domain issue./DMS