DILG chief to MILF: Place wanted commanders in custody

MANILA, Philippines - The interior secretary on Friday urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to place three wanted rogue commanders under their custody so that the ongoing police operations in some Mindanao provinces could be ended. The suggestion was made by Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno who added that movements of MILF commanders Ameril Umbra Kato alias Kummander Kato, Abdullah Makapaar alias Kumander Bravo and Aleem Sulaiman Pangalian alias Kumander Pangalian have been hampered by government operations. At the same time, he said that the forces of the wanted MILF commanders have been significantly reduced. "I think the pond is getting smaller wherein they are swimming. Hopefully the MILF Central Committee will help us and just take custody of these people and then maybe discuss the matter with us so that we can proceed with the legal process," Puno said in a chance interview in Malacañang. He also said that Bravo had apparently sustained injury and already lost his right-hand man and that the MILF commander now only has a third "or maybe less" of the 1,500 men that he used to command. Kumander Kato, Puno added, used to have 500 men. Puno said that Kato now only have less than 150. Puno said the military and police have done their job and the MILF is now worried that the government forces would soon go to their communities and sanctuaries to continue the search. The interior chief reiterated that the government manhunt would stop while these commanders are not in custody. "As long as they are running loose and free to do other acts of savagery on our citizens we cannot be silent about it…What they (MILF) should worry is helping us by getting into custody these people so that they can be kept already from being able to hurt and harm peaceful communities. Kapag ginawa nila yan, we will reconsider police operations," he said. Puno assured that the situation in Mindanao is now generally stable, adding that it was all right for President Gloria Macapal Arroyo to proceed with her trip to United States. "Let's put it this way. If you wanted to go and make a field report on the coastal towns of Lanao del Norte, I will even allow you to go there already without police escorts. It's relatively safe, a lot safer than before," he said. Mrs Arroyo will leave Sunday night or New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. She is expected to return by Sept. 27. - GMANews.TV