The latest news on the Cotabato situation is that the Ilaga has resurfaced. In the 1970s this was an organization of armed militias almost similar to the CAFGU in later years. But while the latter was formed and trained by the military as a counter move against communist guerrillas, the Ilaga was a civilian initiative, whose sworn enemies were the Muslim marauders who attacked Christian villages. The rumor, however, was that the group had the tacit blessing of the AFP whose troopers were only to happy to have an ally in their campaign against Muslim rebels.
In those days tv coverage of events was unheard of, nor was there a newspaper in Cotabato City. A couple of radio stations was operating but news broadcast was generally on national or regional happenings. Hence, the frequent skirmishes between armed groups in the two Cotabato provinces (north and south) were heard only through word of mouth. And the reports were usually diluted with half-truths and exaggeration. Nevertheless, these were generally accepted as credible happenings.
For instance, it was rumored that Ilaga militias were being given guns by the military to forage into Muslim enclaves at night then withdrew towards dawn. This was done allegedly because government troopers were prohibited by President Marcos from entering areas reserved for Muslims. In fact, even the use of heavy weapons was taboo, perhaps to prevent collateral casualties among non-combatants.
Personally, I observed that some of these information were true. On one occasion, for instance, while on my way to Buldon, a mountain municipality north of Cotabato City, I passed by an army checkpoint which was pointed out by my Muslim companion as the "boundary" between government troops and the Blackshirts. I was told that some kind of agreement had been reached to set up such boundary to prevent escalation of the conflict.
With regard to distribution of guns to non-combatants, I observed this too while on a visit to Carmen, a mountain town in the northern part of Cotabato. Just a few kilometers from the forbidden Wao, a stronghold of Islamist rebels, Carmen had been the scene of bloody battles, between government troops and the rebels. (Aware of the danger, I first refused to go on a supervisory visit to the place, but my superior in Manila ordered me to do such visit threatening disobedience if I failed to).
So I went to Carmen. After crossing a wide river, I was met on the other side by a contingent of policemen aboard a military jeep. Then I rode with them to the town passing through rolling terrains with almost impassable road snaking through clusters of stunted trees. The mayor, an Ilonggo, was standing outside the municipal building when we arrived. Some amenities, then he took me to his school for which he needed a government permit to continue operating. There I saw about a dozen male students in CAT uniform digging what looked like a ditch. "What's going on", I asked the mayor. "Well", he answered, "we are expecting an attack tonight; we're setting up a defense perimeter". "My God," I told myself, "I'm in a wrong place at a wrong time!"
The mayor must have sensed my anxiety because he said, "Don't worry, we are prepared for any eventuality". It was already late afternoon as we proceeded to the town hall. "We'll stay here for the night…it's too dangerous now to travel", my host told me. Towards six o'clock that evening a weapons carrier arrived bringing in guns of various make. Each of the people there, the supposed defenders, was asked to pick his weapon. When urged to choose my piece, I decided on a carbine. I was familiar with this gun having been taught to dismantle (and assemble) it during my ROTC days. After this, we took our supper, then took up our positions while waiting for the attack. Fortunately and to my relief, the expected attack did not come. Back in Cotabato City I learned that the mayor of Carmen was one of the Ilaga leaders, the reason why his town was the scene of frequent fire-fights with Muslim insurgents.
Presently, as an aftermath of the attacks on Lanao del Norte towns there are talks about the revival of the Ilaga movement. This is a dangerous development. With para-military groups joining the fray where would peace be in Mindanao? The scenario of the 1970s when violence exploded in various parts of that place with regularity would recur.
Perhaps, for their own security Christian residents of that land down-under have reasons to arm and defend themselves. But the government should step in and prevent the situation from spinning out of control. Otherwise, we will have, God forbid, a Darfur in that heretofore land of promise.
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Email: edioko_uv@yahoo.com