'Moro special council no harm to security'<\/p>\n
MANILA (AFP): The creation of a special council led by Moslem
\ninsurgents will not compromise the Philippines' national
\nsecurity, defense secretary Renato De Villa said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a forum in the southern Philippines, transcripts
\nof which were released here, De Villa said \"the government will
\nnot make any concession nor enter into any compromise that puts
\nour national security or the security of your communities at
\nrisk.\"<\/p>\n
He was referring to the agreement reached with the Moslem
\ninsurgent Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) for the
\nestablishment of a special council, to be led by the MNLF, which
\nwould coordinate development projects in 14 provinces and nine
\ncities in the southern Philippines.<\/p>\n
The council would pave the way for the creation of a Moslem
\nautonomous region in the area which the Philippines' Moslem
\nminority considers their ancestral homeland.<\/p>\n
However the Christian majority in the area has opposed the
\ncouncil, fearing it would put them under MNLF control.<\/p>\n
De Villa also said all communities in the area would be under
\nthe protection of the military and that their capabilities in the
\nregion would not be diminished.<\/p>\n
He also said the decision of MNLF chairman Nur Misuari to take
\npart in forthcoming elections for an existing Moslem autonomous
\nregion, showed the MNLF's willingness to be governed by the
\nPhilippine constitution.<\/p>\n
Misuari, who has led the MNLF in nearly 30 years of guerrilla
\nwar against the central government in Manila, formally filed his
\ncertificate of candidacy for the governorship of the Autonomous
\nRegion of Moslem Mindanao (ARMM) in elections scheduled on
\nSeptember 9.<\/p>\n
He was also proclaimed as the official candidate of the ruling
\ncoalition of Philippine President Fidel Ramos.<\/p>\n
The ARMM, which is made up of four provinces, is also included
\nunder the area to be governed by the proposed council.<\/p>\n
Despite earlier speculation that Misuari would run unopposed,
\nit was reported yesterday that three local opposition politicians
\nhad also filed their candidacies to run against Misuari.<\/p>\n
The MNLF meanwhile announced yesterday that it was also
\nfielding candidates for the 11 seats of the ARMM council.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Ramos's chief aide, Executive Secretary Ruben
\nTorres yesterday assured officials in the southern city of Davao
\nthat Misuari would not be allowed his usual retinue of heavily-
\narmed bodyguards when he campaigns for the gubernatorial seat of
\nthe ARMM.<\/p>\n
Torres said Misuari would be provided with police bodyguards
\nand could even select policemen whom he trusts to take the posts.<\/p>\n
The government has banned the carrying of firearms in public
\nduring election periods but Misuari is known to travel with as
\nmany as a hundred heavily-armed MNLF guards.<\/p>\n
Torres and De Villa have both been addressing local residents
\nand officials as part of a government campaign to convince more
\npeople to accept the council to be headed by Misuari.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moro-special-council-no-harm-to-security-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}