Government Forces Begin Cotabato Offensive

Written on Sunday, August 10th, 2008 at 10:38 pm | by Ding G. Gagelonia

The fighting has erupted in North Cotabato five days after the Supreme Court TRO’ d the controversial MoA on Ancestral Domain between the Arroyo regime and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that provides for the establishment of a Bangsamoro Juridical Authority.

The MILF failed to make good its promise to “reposition” its forces from nine barangays in three towns claiming they were being harassed by armed civilian volunteers.

But as far as the government is concerned, the police action to flush the MILF out was now necessary as the ultimatum for their withdrawal last Friday had long expired.

The Commission on Elections says the gubernatorial elections for the ARMM will still push through tomorrow but it is now unclear how the situation in North Cotabato will be after tonight.

The MILF says it is filing a strong protest before the ceasefire committee over today’s government offensive.

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About The Author: Ding G. Gagelonia is a journalist of some 30 years, having worked in both radio and TV news and public affairs since his teens. Ding Gagelonia now writes independently and does corporate communications consulting. He has two kids, Felice and Luis. His journalist blog is at midfield.wordpress.com

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4 Responses to “Government Forces Begin Cotabato Offensive”

  1. The Jester-in-Exile on August 11th, 2008 12:38 am

    who’s going to bet that a failure of elections won’t be declared?

  2. Ding G. Gagelonia on August 11th, 2008 4:32 pm

    Jester, that’s in the realm of possibilities , I guess, but I bet the administration will not allow that to be able to ’showcase’ the automation. But what has to be closely watched are telltale signs of a new breed of electoral fraud like those chads that killed off Al Gore in Florida, remember, bro? :)
    ‘Automated cheating’, anyone? By the way, ever winder what happened the the fraud operator Lintang Bedol? My sources tell me he’s gone under-ground, but in the literal 6-feet-under meaning of the word.

  3. retsy on August 11th, 2008 4:40 pm

    I am thankful that the soldiers of the Republic of the Philippines is doing their duty in protecting the civilians. As of yesterday and today, the offensive attacked has erupted in North-Cotabato.

    I am advocating Peace, but with this scenario it is better to have war between the Philippine Government & the MILF!!!! Why??? it is because the livelihood of the civilians is at stake. With the willingness of Philippine soldiers, the civilians is already at ease now hence the military are doing their duty to get rid of the bandits!!!!

    Thank you soldiers, We salute all of you!!!!!

    The big question only that runs in our mind is the fact that the Arroyo administration will probably declare a state of emergency, if chaos is no longer manageable!!!

    To my fellow Filipinos, let us be vigilant to guard and protect our constitutions!!!!!!!!

  4. retsy on August 11th, 2008 4:44 pm

    Constitution, rather.

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