ZAMBOANGA CITY – The 2nd Marine Brigade is now preparing a new outpost at the site of the former camp of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to ensure the safety and security of the residents in Barangay Lakit-Lakit, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, 2nd Marine Brigade commander, said they will set up an outpost after the MNLF peacefully dismantled the camp they established sometime in 2018 in Barangay Lakit-Lakit, Bongao.
The MNLF dismantled the camp Thursday following series of dialogue with military and provincial government officials since its establishment is in violation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the government and the MNLF.
“We will establish a temporary marine post in the area to ensure the safety and security of the people,” Rojas said.
“Diplomacy has prevailed in the name of peace, cooperation, understanding, and strong relationships and this is attributable to the good convergence among the local chief executives, other stakeholders, and the security sector,” added Rojas, who, along with other military and government officials witnessed the MNLF dismantles their camp.
Rojas, after the camp was dismantled, led the inspection of the former MNLF camp in preparation for the construction of an outpost to be manned by marine troops.
The establishment of the camp, which is accessible by boat, has become a serious security concern for the people of Bongao due to the continuous construction of perimeter houses and the reported presence of people not from the province of Tawi-Tawi.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincm), said that the setting up of a camp in Barangay Lakit-Lakit, Bongao by the MNLF caused alarm to the residents in the area.
Vinluan said that the situation prompted the local government to coordinate with the military in Tawi-Tawi to conduct a dialogue with the local MNLF officials to dismantle their camp.
“This is a clear violation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the government and the MNLF, hence, series of dialogues were conducted by the provincial government of Tawi-Tawi and the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi with the local MNLF for the dismantling of the said structure,” Vinluan added.
Tawi-Tawi Gov. Yshmael Sali said they don’t allow the establishment of camps in the province except those by legitimate security forces like the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). – Nikolai Gonzalo
