LCP condemns senseless acts of rogue MILF members
The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) strongly condemned the senseless acts committed by rogue elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao and they expressed full support to military operations being conducted by the government against the Muslim rebels.
Such sentiments were contained in the Executive Board Resolution No. 2008-12 which they passed August 21, 2008.
The LCP is having an island caravan in Negros which will culminate on Saturday, August 30.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, LCP National Chair; Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, LCP Vice Chair and Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin "Benjur" Abalos, Jr., LCP National President and all the member mayors supported the resolution.
The LCP supports measures that would finally put an end to the Mindanao conflict that had already claimed the lives of several government soldiers and destroyed the properties of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
The recent atrocities were perpetrated by rogue elements of the MILF in their bid to take over a number of local government units in the provinces of North Cotabato, Sarangani and Lanao del Norte.
However, the MILF leadership has denied responsibility over the atrocities in certain municipalities of Lanao del Norte including Iligan City, Sarangani and North Cotabato, claiming that these are actions possibly of lost commands and not from their ranks.
The LCP appealed to the national government to immediately extend the needed assistance to the affected civilians in the areas of conflict.
The LCP also supports the operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police to hunt down relentlessly those responsible for the recent wave of violence in Mindanao and calls upon the government to apply the full force of the law against these rogue elements and make them answerable before the Philippine justice system.
It also urges the government to pursue further negotiations to continue with the peace process in Mindanao.
The LCP and its members also extend sympathy to the people in Lanao, especially to the people of Iligan City, for the unfortunate event and called on concerned government agencies to facilitate the evacuation of residents fleeing the conflict areas and to provide immediate and massive relief to them.