NEWSFLASH

MAGUINDANAO CIVILIANS WANT AFP CAMP

Maguindanao Province, May 24, 2000 - The Armed Forces said yesterday it plans to set up a camp along the strategic Narciso Ramos Highway in Matanog, Maguindanao to permanently ensure peace and order along the 15-kilometer stretch and forestall attempts by the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to take the highway.

Military spokesman Col. Rafael Romero said civilians living along the highway were the ones who "requested the military to build a military camp" in the area.

"The highway is owned by the government, thus, we should take control of it permanently. It is for the safety of the residents there," he explained.

Meanwhile, Col. Jaime Canatoy, chief of the AFP Public Affairs Service, said mobile checkpoints will likely be operated "to monitor the movement of the MILF."

Romero said government will maintain its authority and prevent MILF guerrillas from setting up checkpoints again along the Narciso Ramos Highway.

The 1st Marine Brigade under Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio already built a tactical command post in front of the junction leading to Camp Abubakar, the MILF general headquarters.

Teodosio had earlier proposed the destruction of Camp Abubakar, saying that as long as it is there the MILF "will continue to sow terror. It is better to destroy it because it is the center of gravity of the MILF."

The highway, dubbed by soldiers as the "bloodiest highway" and the "road to hell," had been the "milking cow" of MILF rebels who mulcted and extorted money from motorists.

The government regained control of the highway last May 16 after three weeks of heavy fighting with the MILF guerrillas.