ZAMBOANGA CITY, 3 November 2005 — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) yesterday said it would dismantle an outpost on a village in the province of South Cotabato following protests from the locals.
South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Fuentes said civilians were frightened by the presence of armed rebels in the village. She said the rebels were also building new camps in the area.
The MILF said it was not building camps in the area, but admitted maintaining a command post manned by about 50 rebels who were residents of the said village.
A rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu said members of the joint committees on the cessation of hostilities and the Malaysia-led truce observers are investigating the report.
“There are no new camps nor the MILF is buildings camps in the area. What we have there is a small command post and manned by about 30 to 50 members,” Kabalu told Arab News.
He said the MILF is willing to dismantle and abandon the post to allay fears in the area.
“We will dismantle and abandon the out post, and will also prohibit our members from carrying firearms in the village to allay fears of civilians in the area,” Kabalu said.
Manila opened peace talks with the MILF and signed a cease-fire agreement in 2001.
Under the accord, the MILF is prohibited from building new camps or to expand their so-called strongholds in the south.
