ZAMBOANGA CITY (AFP) — Philippine government forces have withdrawn from a former Muslim separatist guerrilla stronghold in the country’s south ahead of planned peace talks, the military said yesterday.
Unspecified military units guarding the Buliok complex completed a three-day redeployment on Thursday in keeping with an agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in February, a military statement said.
Malaysia has pledged to host the resumption of negotiations expected later this year as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo bids to bring a political settlement to three decades of rebellion by the Roman Catholic nation’s large Muslim minority.
“The pullout is seen as a gesture of faith and goodwill on the government’s part as the peace talks resume between the state and the MILF,” the statement said.
Arroyo ordered the military to seize Buliok, near the town of Pikit, last year on grounds MILF units in the area sheltered terrorists and kidnappers.
The MILF signed a ceasefire with Manila 14 months ago after the fighting left more than 150 people dead.
The military’s Southern Command said the units from Buliok redeployed to the Lanao region of Mindanao island.
It did not say how many soldiers had been pulled out from Buliok, but the military had said in the past that more than 2,000 soldiers, mostly Marines, were stationed in the area.
Fraternity member shot
A 20-year-old student was shot and wounded by a student who was a member of a rival fraternity last Friday night in Las Piñas City.
Supt. Pete Sanson, Las Piñas police chief, identified the victim as Cyr Edward Cruz, a student of the University of Perpetual Help College and a resident of 6 Licaros St., BF Resort Village, Las Piñas.
He sustained a bullet wound on his chest and was rushed for treatment at the Perpetual Help Hospital.
The suspect, Ronald Concepcion, 19, also a student of the Las Piñas College and a member of the Tau Gamma Fraternity, of Block 18, Lot 1, Pag-ibig Homes, Talon 4, Las Piñas, was arrested by police in a follow-up operation.
Concepcion was positively identified by the victim as his attacker when he presented for identification at the hospital.
Investigation disclosed that the shooting incident happened at 6:20 p.m. Friday along Ocampo Drive, Ocampo Village, Pamplona 3, Las Piñas.
Prior to the incident, the suspect was reportedly having a drinking spree together with his friends when the victim, who reportedly belongs to a rival fraternity, accidentally passed by and was seen by the suspect.
The suspect reportedly followed the victim and without a word shot the victim, hitting him on the chest.
Paraffin examination at the PNP Crime Laboratory will be conducted on the suspect who is now detained at the Las Piñas police detention cell. (James I. Catapusan)
3 nabbed in buy-bust
Two foreigners and a Filipino were arrested in a buy-busy operation last Wednesday afternoon in Caloocan City.
One hundred grams of shabu valued at R200,000 were seized from the three suspected drug pushers.
In his report to Undersecretary Anselmo S. Avenido Jr., director general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Senior Superintendent Orlando M. Mabutas, regional director of the PDEA Metro Manila Regional Office (MMRO), identified the suspects as Sam Sia Young, alias “Jelson Yu,” 34, married; Dizon Go, alias “Ang Yin,” 37, married, both Chinese residing at Block 7, Lot 5, 705 Jade Garden Townhouse, Don Pedro St., Marulas, Valenzuela; and Jing Alvarez Mata, 41, married, and residing at Ramon St., Fortune 4, Valenzuela.
Investigation showed that the suspects agreed to sell one transparent self-sealed plastic pack containing the illegal drug to a PDEA poseur-buyer for R100,000.
The transaction was conducted on Copenhangen corner Havana Sts., Vista Verde Executive Village, Kaybiga, Caloocan.
The suspects were arrested by elements of the MMRO Special Enforcement Group (SEG) led by Senior Inspector Mannan Muarip.
Also confiscated from the suspects was a Toyota Revo with conduction sticker No. AD 9123 which they allegedly used to transport the illegal drug. (Yul Malicse)
Candon man bags award
CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur — An employee of the Philippine National Bank (PNB) branch here bagged the Teller Award recently.
The awardee, Elmo A. Cance, of San Isidro, Candon, was congratulated by the people and Mayor Allen G. Singson of this city. They said they are proud of him.
“I am not wondering why he got this far because he was our salutatorian in grade school and high school,” a former classmate of Cance said.
Cance’s ex-schoolmates recalled that even while he was still studying at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila, they predicted that Cance will go a long, long way due to his diligence, perseverance, and patience.
Cance first worked as a high school teacher at St. Joseph Institute of this city and then transferred to the PNB on June 15, 1990.
He was selected because of his high level of efficiency in carrying out his duties as a teller, and adhered to and displayed honesty, loyalty, and excellent customer service. (Mar T. Supnad)
