Tension defused in Tangkal, Lanao del Norte – IMT, PA

By Lorry V. Gabule

Monday 6th of August 2012

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Aug 6 (PIA) -- The intervention of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the Local Monitoring Team, through the Philippine Army, has de-escalated the tension that triggered the evacuation of some residents in Tangkal, Lanao del Norte.

The negotiation was facilitated by Commander Farizan Bin Hussain of the Royal Malaysian Navy, team leader of the IMT Site 2 in Iligan City and the government military force through Col. Ricardo B. Jalad, brigade commander of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade-1st Infantry Division.

Jalad said tension heightened after 120 MILF rebels under Calandada Domalongdong, (a.k.a Minsupala) of the Northwestern Mindanao Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces based in Barangay Berwar of same municipality, were deployed in the barangays of Punod, Linao and Banisilon.

The area where the MILF were deployed was just few kilometers away from the detachment of 35th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Romulo Manuel, battalion commander, in the town proper of Tangkal.

He said the deployment triggered suspicion that the MILF was planning to establish a detachment in Punod, which offers commanding high ground overlooking Berwar.

Manuel added that the tension further heightened after both sides beef up their troops in Tangkal.

This led to the evacuation of residents to safer areas for fear of being caught in the cross fire.

However, the tension was defused after Minsupala agreed to withdraw his troop and the 35IB also extracted their augment troops they deployed following the tension.

‘We see to it that we are bound to respect the agreement set by the peace negotiating panel, thus, the evacuees safely returned to their respective houses,’ said Jalad. (2nd Mech Brig. 1B PA/PIA-LDN/lvgabule)