Negros Occidental sends police team to Mindanao; military on stand by
A team of policemen from the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) went to North Cotabato to augment the government forces in a clash with a renegade group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
A report from Radio Mindanao Network said 80 members of the provincial police flew to North Cotabato recently on board the C130 aircraft.
NOPPO Director Rosendo Franco said the team is part of the support to augment the police and military forces in a continuing conflict with MILF after the deadline set by the government for them to vacate certain areas in Northern Cotabato has lapsed.
Franco hopes the team can help augment the forces already in Mindanao.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army Command in Western Visayas is ready to send their forces to Mindanao if the hostilities between the government forces and MILF continue.
According to Army Capt. Helowen Marquez, Information Officer, they are ready to go to Mindanao if ordered by Philippine Army Chief Alexander Yano.
Malacañang in a statement said the situation in Central Mindanao is still "manageable" despite the reported skirmishes between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the renegade MILF group (105 base command) headed by Umbra Katu in North Cotabato.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to take up the Mindanao conflict with her security officials while the Lower House supports the Armed Forces of the Philippines' offensive moves versus the MILF. (PIA/EAD)