Tubod, Lanao del Norte—Governor Khalid Q. Dimaporo has supported President Benigno Aquino’s statement to resume talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GRP-MILF).

In an interview with the governor, he said that through the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), it passed a Resolution asking the national government to resume the peace talk as soon as possible, no clean up of delay after the end of Ramadhan.

We are greatly affected in the shift, whenever there is a clash between the MILF and the government, especially when there is disagreement between the talks.

And that we purposely convene the Council recently,  to prepare the local government units, the province, government line agencies, the non-government organizations, civil society, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), to be well coordinated for the worst scenario of a possible encounter before the deadline set by the President, said Gov. Dimaporo.

Unfazed by the hazards posed by threat groups, as well as criminals and other lawless elements, Police Senior Superintendent Orlando A. Beńas, provincial director, PNP Lanao del Norte, reported that the situation has remained normal, and the atmosphere of tranquility prevails in the province.

While most of the threat group activities are situated in the mountain areas of Lanao del Norte (near boundary of Lanao del Sur), the activities do not pose direct threat to Lanao del Norte,  disclosed Col. Leo Cresente M. Ferrer, 601st brigade commander, Unifier Brigade, 6th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, with headquarters at Maria Cristina, lligan city.

He added, ceasefire is holding in their area of responsibility. The brigade is upholding the primacy of the peace process.

Col. Ferrer has directed his field commanders to take into consideration the strategic implication of their tactical decisions.

Thus, there is generally a peaceful and permissive security environment in our area of responsibility conducive to development, assessed Col. Ferrer. (Lorry V. Gabule / PIA LDN)