MILF delisted as threat in Central Mindanao

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – The military no longer considers the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as a threat to troops in the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and Cotabato.

Maj. Gerald Monfort, 27th Infantry Battalion executive military officer based in Tupi town, said troops are now focusing on the New People’s Army (NPA) in the mountainous areas of South Cotabato.

The NPA remains a threat in South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato, he added.

Monfort said the MILF’s removal from the list of threat groups was due to the signing of the framework agreement with the government.

“MILF is deleted from the list of threat groups operating in South Cotabato,” a radio station based in Koronadal quoted Monfort as saying.

Last week, the NPA burned a spraying truck of a Japanese-funded banana firm in a remote part of Barangay Dumangas in T’boli town in the upper valley area of South Cotabato.