Press Release
August 19, 2008

National Security Council Must Be Convened-
Executive Department Cannot Resolve Mindanao Conflict
Without Legislative Participation

Senator Rodolfo G Biazon today said the MILF has crossed the threshold that distinguishes the rebels and the terrorists.

"The MILF attacks against the towns of Saranggani, North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte were characterized by the murder of defenseless civilians, arson, kidnapping, hostage taking and destruction of properties."

"These are all predicate crimes that constitute as one of the elements of the crime of terrorism, the other element is when these are committed "in order to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand."

"Based on the pronouncements coming out of the MILF leadership, these depredatory acts had been committed to push the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain."

"The only remaining act of government is to officially declare that the MILF is now categorized as TERRORISTS, LIKE THE ABU SAYYAF."

"If this happens, the parameters in government's dealing with the MILF will radically change. This requires a radical change in the government's policy as it deals with the problem of the MILF. The peace process will have to be abandoned. The MILF will have to be pursued and any arrests made will be without bail."

"First there were the attacks in the North Cotabato towns of Alyosan, Misayap, Pikit, Tigkawayan and the attacks in some localities of Saranggani. Yesterday's attack of 5 towns of Lanao del Norte was even worst - ransacking and burning of the bank, business establishments and residential houses; killing of plain civilians for no reason at all; and the taking of hostages and subsequent execution of the hostages. All of these has created wide spread panic and extra ordinary fear that drove many families to evacuate to safer areas."

"I am therefore recommending the convening of the National Security Council because of the serious implications of what the government response to these is concerned. Many actions to be taken by the government may not be

within the authority and capability of the Executive Department and therefore, this matter is not only within the functions of the National Security Cluster of the Cabinet, but will require the presence of members of the Legislature in the National Security Council."

Biazon said many questions are going to be raised and will need answers:

1. Can the government prevent similar acts of depredation committed by the MILF not only in North Cotabato, Sarrangani or Lanao de Norte but including the areas they are asking for in Category A and Category B of the Memorandum of Agreement? These include most of Western Mindanao including the whole peninsula of Zamboanga provinces all the way to Palawan. This will require resources that may have to be given by Congress. The government should prevent the recurrence of these attacks in the areas mentioned.

2. How to proceed with the peace process, if peace process is still an option.

3. What to do with Camp Abubakar where all of these series of depredatory attacks in 2000 up to the present had been staged from. It can not be that Camp Abubakar will be allowed to continue to be the sanctuary from where depredatory acts can be staged from. Questions are being raised by the people of Mindanao especially in Iligan why Camp Abubakar was given back to the MILF after it was occupied and controlled by government forces in 2000.

4. What to do with the practice of the MILF of claiming "Lost Commands" or lost of control over their forces who commit these depredatory attacks.

5. Can the government generate the necessary forces to prevent creating vacuums in other areas of the country affected by insurgency to redeploy to the threatened areas of Mindanao?

"Definitely if the peace process will be allowed to continue to proceed there is a need to redefine the parameters of this peace process."

"All these questions will require answers to be defined by the National Security Council. I therefore repeat, we need to convene the National Security Council, "Biazon concluded.

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