Treñas: Vigilante group may escalate war in Mindanao
City Mayor Jerry Treñas believes the plan of the Ilaga, a group of Ilonggos in Mindanao who fought the Muslim rebels in the '70s, to fight against the atrocities of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels will only escalate the agitation of what is currently happening in Mindanao.
Treñas' reaction was in response to information that Ilaga, a vigilante group, will dip its fingers in the armed conflict in the south which already killed soldiers as well as civilians. Muslim rebels torched and carted away the belongings of both the Muslims and Christians.
Treñas said despite of the ongoing hostilities, people should take calmly the situation hinting that the participation of a vigilante group will worsen the situation. There are number of Ilonggos living in Mindanao.
The current armed conflict in Mindanao escalated when the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order against the signing of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain. Two leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Commanders Umbra Kato and Bravo initiated all the atrocities.
The conflict already claimed the lives of several soldiers and civilians. The casualties in the Mindanao war includes Ilonggos namely Lt. Angel Benitez and Cpl. Angelo Abeto. Benitez will be buried Saturday at the Garden of Ascension.
Treñas said he and the League of Cities in the Philippines condemn the atrocities initiated by the Muslim fighters. However, the government and the MILF should go back to the negotiating table.
The war will not only affect the communities in Mindanao but the entire country. The country will incur much expenses in the war on the ammunition and other armaments used to fight the MILF fighters, said Treñas.
The expenses incurred in the different evacuation centers is another burden to the government. Number of evacuees are fleeing their homes to hide from the MILF. The government's resources could have been disbursed in other projects that will help alleviate the lives of the people, said Treñas.