ZAMBOANGA CITY, 6 November 2005 — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) destroyed an illegal post put up by rebels in South Cotabato province in Mindanao following protests by villagers, a spokesman said yesterday.

The MILF tore down the post in the village of Polunuling in Tupi town late Friday and disarmed dozens of rebels, the group’s spokesman Eid Kabalu said.

He said several bunkers and trenches were also destroyed.

“We have dismantled the illegal post, destroyed the bunkers and trenches and prohibited the rebels from carrying their weapons in public places,” Kabalu told Arab News.

Gov. Daisy Fuentes of South Cotabato said civilians are scared by the presence of armed rebels in the village. She said the rebels build camps in the area.

The MILF denied the group was building camps in the area, but admitted it was maintaining a command post manned by about 50 rebels under Diego del Moro.

Kabalu said members of the joint committees on the cessation of hostilities and the Malaysia-led truce observers witnessed the dismantling of the post.

The MILF is currently negotiating peace with Manila and signed a truce accord in 2001, in an effort to end more than three decades of hostilities in Mindanao.

Under the accord, the MILF is prohibited to build new camps or expand their so-called strongholds in the south.

Regional military spokesman Col. Franklin del Prado said the MILF dismantled at least 5 bunkers, located in strategic positions in Polunuling and trenches that surrounded the hilltop village.

“The MILF is complying with the cease-fire agreement and has dismantled the illegal detachment,” he said.

The leader of the Malaysian-led cease-fire observers Lt. Col. Mohd Arifin bin Abdul Hamid lauded the MILF for its quick decision to dismantle the illegal post.

“The dismantling of the unauthorized post in South Cotabato province is an excellent manifestation that the ceasefire agreement between the MILF and the government is working very well,” he said.

Peace negotiations are expected to resume soon in Malaysia, which is brokering the talks.