Lanao del Norte residents want increased military presence vs MILF, Abu Sayyaf

MANILA, Philippines - Lanao del Norte governor Khalid Dimaporo has led his constituents in asking the government for an increase in military deployment in their area to protect them against Moro and Abu Sayyaf rebels. Dimaporo made the call during a dialogue with Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon Jr over the weekend. He said he and his constituents are supporting a ceasefire and the non-withdrawal of government troops in the province because military presence makes them feel secured. "Commander Bravo attacked us in 2000, 2003, 2008. If we can't bring him to justice, he might come back in 2011," Dimaporo said, referring to Abdurahman Macapaar, a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander currently being hunted by government forces in Central Mindanao for leading attacks on civilian population last August. Dimaporo said peace can be achieved, but only at the expense of justice. He also encouraged the leaders and members of various sectors in Lanao del Norte who attended the dialogue with Esperon to have “one singular direction” in pursuing peace in their province. "We all want peace but it's not a simple problem. It would take generations to solve it. We need to sit as one group. 'huwag ang 'kanya-kanya' (to each his own) mentality,” Dimaporo said. He added that his area still needs government troops to protect them in case lawless elements of the MILF break the ceasefire agreement again. For his part, Esperon expressed his support to the peace initiatives of Lanao del Norte even as he assured that “military solution” will still be a part of the peace process. “But the main ingredient should be dialogues and negotiations,” he said. "We should move towards that direction. We need government forces and law enforcement, but it must be accompanied by dialogues. In other words, this conflict must be solved on the table, not in the battlefield," Esperon added. - GMANews.TV