PNP takes lead role in securing Cotabato's ‘Palma’ area

KIDAPAWAN, North Cotabato — A police task force has been organized to take the lead in securing North Cotabato’s “Palma" area, where fighting almost broke out between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces earlier this week. Officials said the presence of the police, in lieu of combat forces, is meant to reduce tension that has sent thousands of villagers fleeing to safer places. Chief Supt. Felizardo Serapio, regional director of Philippine National Police (PNP) in Central Mindanao and head of the task force, said the demilitarization of the place is being done in coordination with the military, local officials and MILF leaders. Serapio said religious leaders are also being tapped to ensure the peaceful withdrawal of the MILF fighters, who have occupied some villages in the Palma area after the Supreme Court stopped the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) by government and MILF peace panels on the proposed ancestral domain of Filipino Muslims in the southern Philippines. Upon the request of North Cotabato officials, the high court issued a temporary restraining order on Aug. 4, a day before the MOA signing scheduled on August 5 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The timely arrival of members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) along with a joint ceasefire panels of the government and the MILF prevented all-out clash from erupting in Midsayap, one of the towns in North Cotabato’s Palma hotspot. Palma stands for Pigkawayan, Aleosan, Libungan, Midsayap, and Alamada, all in North Cotabato’s border with Lanao del Sur province. Cotabato Gov. Jesus Sacdalan and town executives in areas affected by the fighting were also in the meeting, according to Serapio. Serapio has urged Sacdalan and town chief executives to support the task force for peace and order to be restored. Serapio said the task force has three components, which include Law Enforcement Task Groups led by Chief Supt. Felicisimo Khu Jr.; Task Force Evac (for evacuation) led by Cotabato provincial social welfare officer Vergelita Guilaran; and Task Force Nego (for negotiation) led by Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Sealana, chair of the government’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH). “Under Task Force Palma, the PNP will take the primary role in law enforcement function supported by the AFP," said Serapio. Since Friday, 11 platoons from the Regional Mobile Group in central Mindanao, southern Mindanao, west Mindanao, and Caraga region were dispatched to augment the existing police stations in Palma area. “Their main task is to secure the Poblacions and highways and augment the local police stations to undertake law enforcement functions supported by the AFP in the areas allegedly occupied by MILF," he stressed. All territorial PNP units were directed to conduct checkpoints to implement Oplan Bakal and to disarm all unauthorized persons carrying firearms to include CVOs as directed by higher headquarters. - GMANews.TV