Moro rebs to poison sources of water?

COTABATO CITY — Text messages about an alleged plan by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to poison sources of water here and in surrounding provinces have prompted the military to doubly tighten security of water reservoirs and supply stations in Central Mindanao.

"We are not taking any chances and we are prepared to carry out preemptive strikes if only to prevent any group, even the MILF for that matter, from perpetrating such an atrocity," said Maj. Julieto Ando, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

Officials of the Metro Kidapawan Water District (MKWD) have confirmed that they have fielded more watchmen in their dam and reservoir at the foot of Mt. Apo after text messages circulated that MILF rebels were out to poison their water supply.

Suspected MILF rebels, using improvised explosives, recently destroyed two main pipes supplying water from the MKWD’s dam in Barangay Perez to some 20,000 water concessionaires.

The attack disrupted water supply to at least 60 percent of Kidapawan City for almost two days. Ando said more soldiers and civilian volunteers have since been fielded in pumping stations and reservoirs supplying water to populated areas in Central Mindanao.