July 18, 2008


MNLF arms buildup favors govt

By Isagani Palma, Correspondent

SARANGANI: The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) will double its infantry and produce more armaments by next year, its chairman, Nur Misuari, said on Wednesday during a peace rally here participated in by its commanders and combatants, and top government and military officials. This move, according to Misuari, will boost the government’s quest for peace. He hinted, though, that MNLF rebels will fight alongside government troops.

In nearby General Santos City, Army officers based there promised to upgrade infantry firepower by mounting mortar cannons on armored personnel carriers and light armored vehicles in efforts to intensify the military’s anti-terrorism and counterinsurgency drives in southern Mindanao.

Misuari was released recently after posting bail to avoid prolonged detention at the Philippine National Police Academy in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. He disclosed MNLF’s plans in a peace symposium and dialogue billed as “Peace and Unity for Development in Mindanao” held in coastal Malapatan town.

“We will increase [the number of] our reserved combatants, now at 150,000, and double their number. [We will] set up new sophisticated armaments and make use of more or less 86,000 loose firearms in Sulu, if needed, by next year,” Misuari said, claiming this will favor government.

“The expansion of our forces would benefit both MNLF and the government in our search for lasting peace. We, including the Philippine Army-MNLF integrated forces, will be united in maintaining peace and in promoting the needed development for entire Mindanao,” he added.

The former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao had sought the approval of Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, through Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon, to hold a month-long peace caravan in Mindanao, specifically in Sulu and the outlying islands of Palawan, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan.

The caravan will provide information to the Bangsamoro people (composed of Muslims, Christians and Lumads or highlanders) on the current status of the tripartite agreement signed in 1996 by Manila and the MNLF.

Misuari said he had ordered MNLF leaders and followers to stay in their camps to avoid involvement in the clashes between the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in other parts of Mindanao. Like the MNLF, the MILF seeks an independent Islamic homeland in southern Philippines.

Sarangani Governor Miguel Do­minguez promised to support Mi­suari’s peace efforts. “We always welcome everyone who loves peace in our area. The holding of a peace caravan, and peace itself, would be vital means for development,” he said.

Misuari said he is set to implement a regionalized federal system of government in Mindanao once the proposed autonomy of the Banga­samoro region is approved by the Philippine government. “I can now feel the realization of a federal government. It’s now not far from today. And I am sure, [we will win],” he added.

Besides .50 cal. machineguns on Simba and Scorpio tanks, most of the military’s support vehicles, including those used in transporting soldiers, will be mounted with 81mm mortar cannons to support infantry assaults, said Lt. Col. Rex C. Palma, commanding officer of the Second Light Armor Battalion.

Palma added that Army vehicles could now be faster in transporting “big guns [mortar cannons]” unlike in the past when mortar cannons and shells were usually carried by soldiers.

The light armor unit in Central Mindanao that supports the Army’s 10th Infantry Division is operational and in good condition, he said. Officials are studying the fleet’s use of diesel to escape incessant gasoline price hikes.

The 10th Infantry and Second Light Armor Battalions are assigned to protect the provinces of Sa­rangani, Compostela Valley, North and South Cotabato, Sultan Ku­darat, Cotabato, Davao del Sur and del Norte, and the cities of Tacurong and General Santos.

From only a few brigades in the 1980s, the Light Armor Division has grown into five battalions and three mechanized infantry battalions, with two separate light armor companies deployed in various parts of the country, Palma said.

Light armor units could easily be repaired because of availability of engine spare parts in the local market. In contrast, the high cost of high-octane fuel and the unavailability of engine parts prompted the decom­missioning of the F-5 fighter fleet in 2005.

It is too early for that, Maybe the continuation of jabidah style is better.

and fight the bigger number of Moros with that alone?

NAKALIMUTAN NIYO NA YATA NANGYARI SA TIPO-TIPO? tsk tsk tsk.

Worse, sa sobrang hina ng military ay ito ang nangyayari.

Now it even includes PALAWAN!

tsk tsk tsk.... id rather modernize the military and quell their illusions once and for all!

People, remember that this deal happened under Gloria Macapoagal-Arroyo & Gen. Hermogenes Esperon.

These numbers make me nervous. I have a feeling these supposed benefits to the government will someday backfire.

The ARMM elections will help a lot.

and the military's answer is simply to put mortars into their light armor units.

my goodness.

as if the enemy is that weak.

At least they are improvising with what they have, still ready to do their jobs inspite of the odds instead of yaking and yaking about the shortcomings of government!

...... and the result is heavy casualty on the govt side.

By the way, I am not saying its all bad for th Army.

The mortars and guns on the armored units are okay and are laudable achivementson the part of teh Army.

But let's not be satisfied with that.

In the Tipo-Tipo encounter, the troops have it all incluiding 2 V150 with 50 cal guns. They have mortars, snipers and have a good number. But they were almost massacred.

Fellows, dont be to complacent.

You may have your APC but the Moros got RPG. They have mortar and snipers as well and the many supporters in the vicinity at their beck and call.

Be ahead of them.

One idea is improve of Air-Ground Attack coordination.

My bet is, we need "Eyes".

The .50 caliber is really a powerful gun, enough to supress an entire battallion. But the major draw back including with air assets is, you cant kill what you can't see not unless its a lucky shot.

While the govt should be careful in dealing with this MNLF offer of Misuari , the govt cannot entirely refuse it totally even though it has risks.

if you look back at history, it was the first peace agreement of the govt with the MNLF that resulted in the integration of 7,500 ex-MNLF rebels into the AFP and PNP. with some exceptions, the integration of MNLF rebels have been largely successful. Additionally, there is now a Tausug from Jolo who is a Brigadier General in the Philippine army

The AFP could have integrated more ex-MNLF rebels but due to cost constraints at that time plus the "newness" of this concept and risks involved, etc, it was limited to 7,500 rebels

Since the 90s, the Army has been expanded by 2 more divisions the 9th and 10th and there are the usual attritions that need replacements in the 1st and 6th and 4th divisions. I'm sure more muslims have joined these divisions in addition to those 7,500 ex-MNLF rebels

The point i am making is that where the risks are containable, we should integrate more and more moros to the govt side in a divide and rule tactic. can you imagine if we do not have any moro representation at all in the AFP then you have the entire moro population hostile to the AFP but with moros now in the AFP the friends and relatives of those moros will be friendlier to the AFP so thats more moros on the govt side.

if i am a moro rebel and i am now in the AFP i would think a thousand times before switching back to the rebels why? the AFP pays good salary compared to the poverty in the ARMM , sulu area so why kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
obviously, the hardcore ideological moros such as those in the Abusayaff can never be in the AFP because they are highly motivated and cannot be trusted at all.

So while we need to be careful in dealing with misuari, we need to remind ourselves of the relative sucess in integrating those 7,500 MNLF rebels. We might be able to integrate some more. lets not close our mind totally to the concept.

lastly, if we are ever to entertain the idea of taking back sabah in the far far future , moros specially tausugs would be more motivated to attack since Sabah is historically theirs compared to , say, soldiers from other regions who might be scratching their heads about the idea.

bottomline is we need to empower and involve moros in the AFP and the govt so they feel more and more a part of philippine society and not blanket reject them.
its like in the US where the US govt hired more and more minorities since the 60s.