Govt forces tighten security in N. M’nao

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

THE police and military have tightened security measures in northern Mindanao as a precaution against possible violent repercussions of Congress’ failure to approve the controversial proposal to create a new Bangsamoro territory.

Chief Supt. Lyndel Desquitado, police director for Region 10, revealed that government forces were not taking chances, and were preparing in case of attacks resulting from the “death” of the proposed Bangsamoro law.

He said key police and military officials gathered for a joint peace and security coordinating meeting committee meeting in Tubod, Lanao del Norte on Friday, and mapped out plans on how to tighten the security in Lanao del Norte and the region.

It was in Lanao del Norte where separatist rebels who severed ties with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attacked after the Supreme Court rejected the government and the Front’s Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) during the Arroyo administration.

Desquitado said the measures agreed on includes security for vital installations like power lines and transmission towers of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, the author of the House version of the Bangsamoro bill, said there was no more chance for the proposal to be approved.

“It’s dead,” said Rodriguez, pointing out that there were quorum problems, and that Congress has gone on recess in Feb. 5.

He said Congress would rersume sessions on May 23 or 14 days after the elections.

Rodriguez however said he was confident that Congress’ failure to pass the proposed law would not result in fresh peace and order problems because the MILF has promised to follow the “path of peace.”

He said the MILF leaders also declared that they would return to the negotiating table with their government counterparts.