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| ==[[Zamboanga Sibugay News]]== | | ==[[Zamboanga Sibugay News]]== |
| '''Philippine troops fail to rescue kidnapped town mayor'''' | | '''PNOC EC confirms coal reserves in Lower Butong area in Zambo Sibugay'''' |
| *Source: http://mindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com/2012/04/philippine-troops-fail-to-rescue.html | | *Source: http://www.zambotimes.com/archives/46071-PNOC-EC-confirms-coal-reserves-in-Lower-Butong-area-in-Zambo-Sibugay.html |
| *SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 2012 | | *Monday, April 9. 2012 |
| :By (Mindanao Examiner) | | :By (PNA) |
| | RMA/ASF/ssc |
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| | | MANILA — PNOC Exploration Corp., holder of coal operating contract 41 in Zamboanga Sibugay, has completed drilling 12 in-fill holes in the Lower Butong area last month. |
| The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front over the weekend traded barbs for "breaking the peace" in parts of Mindanao during the Holy Week.
| | In a statement, PNOC EC said the results of the drilling confirmed the presence of coal, which can be produced commercially. |
| | | After verification of the coal reserves by an independent third party, PNOC EC said it would start developing this area for production. |
| While a government peace adviser chided the MILF for two ridos (clan wars), the MILF accused government troops of threatening the peace in Moro villages in Zamboanga Sibugay.
| | When completed, this would be the fourth mine that will be operated by the company under COC 41. |
| | | PNOC EC currently operates two highly productive coal mines with another one under development for production late this year. |
| Both sides engaged in a word war even as their negotiators are to meet again for another round of formal exploratory talks this month in Kuala Lumpur, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said.
| | This is the country’s largest underground coal mine and it was able to achieve two million man-hours worked without lost-time accidents in its operations in March, according to Raymundo B. Savella, vice president for Petroleum and Coal Operations of PNOC EC. |
| | | “Safety is an industry benchmark in energy exploration the world over, and we are very proud to have achieved two million-plus man-hours of operation without any accidents,” Mel Lopez, Chairman and chief executive officer of PNOC EC said. |
| On Friday, senior military adviser to the government panel Brig. Gen. Leo Ferrer urged the MILF to stop ridos among its own members and help foster peace in Mindanao, following two clashes on Maundy Thursday.
| | “Considering the hazardous and underground nature of coal mining, this makes this milestone doubly significant,” Lopez added. |
| | | With the positive results in the drilling in Lower Butong, coupled with the company’s current direction to optimize production and aggressive exploration efforts in the nearby areas, PNOC EC said the required coal requirement for the proposed 100-MW power plant had been assured. |
| Ferrer, in a news release posted on the OPAPP website, said the MILF should discipline its troops and put an end to such internal armed conflicts.
| | This should contribute to addressing Mindanao’s current and longer-term power needs, according to Lopez. |
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| "The government wants a peace agreement with the MILF, but we also want to see them prove that they can work with us in keeping the peace," Ferrer said following two ridos in Maguindanao and North Cotabato Thursday morning.
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| According to the OPAPP news release, the incidents occurred at Damalibi village in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao and in Balabac village in Pikit town in North Cotabato.
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| Some 100 families fled their homes and were led to safety by the Army's 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (IB) and the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Light Armor Division.
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| Reports from the government Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) said the first encounter was between the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) led by Commander Rutin and the MILF's Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) 118th Base Command, led by Commander Otok.
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| The BIFF is a breakaway group of the MILF led by rogue commander Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato. The BIAF is the official armed wing of the MILF.
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| According to the OPAPP, the clash allegedly stemmed from a land dispute where Otok's nephew, a farmer, was killed by Rutin's group. Thursday's attack was allegedly Otok's retaliation.
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| Ferrer said the government CCCH has informed its MILF counterpart about the incident.
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| He said the government CCCH has requested the MILF-CCCH to direct the 118th BC to cease the fighting and leave the area once the BIFF elements have withdrawn.
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| Ferrer added Army troops were also requested to establish checkpoints along the highway to deter encroachment of reinforcing troops from both sides.
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| On the other hand, the second incident broke out two hours after the first encounter, between the group of Mando Mandalait, and a certain Commander Lugom of the MILF-BIAF's 108th BC, with reinforcements from one Ibrahim Tan-ao under Kagui Samir of the MILF National Guard Front Command.
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| "Reasons of the clashes are personal grudge and politics, which are among the many causes of rido as well," the OPAPP said.
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| The OPAPP cited an MILF "source" who said the MILF tried to resolve the row but "personal grudge and political connections" got in the way.
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| The government CCCH is working with the local government unit, the MILF CCCH, the Cotabato Local Monitoring Team and the Army's 6th ID to stop the fighting and restore peace in the affected area.
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| Meanwhile, Ferrer said the MILF should maintain peace on the ground as a show of sincerity to the peace process.
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| "We urge the MILF to work with the government in bringing peace in Mindanao. We would like to believe that the MILF is as sincere as the government when it comes to the peace negotiations. We would like to see that sincerity reflected on the ground as well, by knowing that the MILF can control their troops from going into armed clashes again in the future," he said.
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| Army stormed Moro village
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| For its part, the MILF on Saturday said composite troops of the Army's 18th Infantry Battalion and the Philippine National Police's Regional Mobile Group (RMG) stormed a Moro community in Barangay Tenan, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay since Friday afternoon.
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| The MILF said "almost a company size" of military and police forces were deployed in Tenan, "heightening alarm and fears" among surprised Moro civilians residing the area.
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| It noted the village is densely populated by MILF members affiliated with its civil–political committees and the 113th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).
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| "Village chieftain and MILF contacts immediately reported the deployment of troops in full battle gear to government and MILF authorities to allay apprehension but clarification were not afforded," the MILF said on its website Saturday afternoon.
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| The MILF said its CCCH conveyed the situation to its counterpart in the government but said "clarifications are still being sought."
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| “What is very clear with us is that no coordination was made by the government on this unusual movement and deployment of government forces,” the MILF CCCH said.
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| The MILF said Tenan is populated by several thousands of Moro civilians and MILF members, who earn a living through fishing and farming.
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| It said its CCCH said it will file a protest on this case that constitutes violations of the ceasefire accord.
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| “If only to avoid misunderstanding and provocations, the government should have coordinated these movement and deployment,” it said.
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| “This act is deplorable and surely diminishes the confidence of the Moro people to the peace talks and ceasefire accord between the government and MILF,” the MILF CCCH added.
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| According to the MILF, the government troops reached Tenan aboard military vehicles, backed up by at least two armored cars.
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| The troops allegedly moved around the village, while others stayed near riverbanks and a bridge.
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| Citing reports reaching it, the MILF said civilians were unable to sleep as they were fearful of what may happen.
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| It added others recalled their "horrendous" experiences during Martial Law such as arbitrary arrests and displacement from native places.
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| “Why (storm) a civilian community if the government is really sincere with the negotiation and the ceasefire?” the MILF said.
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| On Saturday morning, the MILF said government troops swooped into farm lands of the Moros, causing the farmers to stay home.
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| It said Moro fishermen also skipped their daily routine for fear of being harmed.
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| "At almost noontime, the government forces beefed up their presence and continue to scour the Moro village," it said.
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| ==Zamboanga Sibugay Zip Codes== | | ==Zamboanga Sibugay Zip Codes== |