Peace deal on Bangsamoro OKd

Bombings disrupt Cagayan de Oro,
Zamboanga folk; police on high alert

BUTUAN CITY — The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have reached an accord on a “Bangsamoro” government for Muslims in Mindanao.
The accord which is expected to be signed soon between the two parties was hailed by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US State Secretary Hillary Clinton and other leaders in the world and the Philippines.
The looming peace however was marred by bombings in Cagayan de Oro City and Zamboanga, triggering the military and police to go on heightened alert.
President Benigno S. Aquino III said sealing a peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will benefit not only the local communities in Mindanao but also the country’s business sector.
Speaking before the participants of the 38th Philippine Business Conference and Expo in Manila Hotel on Thursday, the President said his administration’s desire to improve the lives of Filipinos is the main reason why it aggressively pushes building more infrastructures and carrying out major reforms in the bureaucracy and in education.
“The foundation of all these reforms is our desire to empower Filipinos. This is the same desire that fueled the Framework Agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which will seal a final and enduring peace in Mindanao,” the President said.
“It is more than an achievement for the government or the MILF—this is also one through which the private sector will benefit, as we may soon be able to explore more areas for sustainable development in Mindanao,” the chief executive added.
More importantly, the Framework Agreement will foster unity among Filipinos, allowing the Philippines to take great strides towards the realization of a peaceful, stable, and equitably progressive country.
The country’s recent successes in the economy, bureaucratic reforms and many other areas isn’t solely a result of government initiatives but also because of the assistance of businesses and the private sector, he said.
“You have believed in the sincerity of our reforms, and you continue to believe in the skills and abilities of the Filipino people—and this has shown itself in the ways you have contributed to our economic resurgence,” he said.
The Philippines 2011 debt to GDP ratio was marked at 50.9 per cent lower than the 52.4 per cent recorded in 2010, the President said adding the average GDP growth for the first semester of 2012 has exceeded expectations at 6.1 per cent.
These figures make the administration hopeful that it can achieve this year’s projected GDP growth of between five to six percent, the President added.
Also, the President boasted of the country’s second consecutive 10-place jump
in the World Economic Forum’s 2012-2013 Global Competitiveness Report as a result of balance pro-active fiscal management, prudent spending and reforms that increase the country’s competitiveness.
The Philippine government and the MILF will sign on Monday, October 15, the Framework Agreement on peace aimed at ending the conflict in Mindanao that has spanned two generations and has resulted to hundreds of casualties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, MILF Chairman Al Hadj Murad, MILF contingent and other partners are expected to attend next week’s event, the Palace said. 
Cagayan de Oro City police director Senior Supt. Nerio Bermudo ordered all station commanders and policemen in the city to monitor crowded areas, hotels, schools and other areas frequented by people following bombings in some places in Mindanao, particularly Cagayan de Oro City and Zamboanga Sibugay on Wednesday and early Thursday.
Butuan City is only four hours ride from Cagayan de Oro City and is the nearest big city next to CDO, Davao, and General Santos City.
“We received orders from Caraga Police regional director Chief Supt. Carmelo Valmoria through his deputy for operations Senior Supt. Sevilla for heightened alert here in Butuan City following bombings in Cagayan de Oro City which is near here,” Bermudo said.
Bermudo told PNA in an exclusive interview at his office that as early last Thursday evening, plainclothes cops were deployed to crowded areas to heighten mobile patrol operations to monitor 24/7 peace and order condition in the entire city.
“I also ordered heightened police visibility in terminals, seaports and airports in Butuan City aside from personally conducting and leading mobile patrol operations all over the area,” he said.
Bermudo said he also ordered establishment of mobile checkpoints in entry and exit points of Butuan City for passengers of PUBs coming to and from Cagayan de Oro City.
“We will not leave any stone unturned as we will be keeping a 24/7 monitoring in the entire City,”Bermudo stressed.
At around 2 a.m. October 11, an improvised explosive device (IED) went off near the entrance of Maxandrea Hotel in downtown Cagayan de Oro City leaving two people dead.
Authorities identified the fatalities as hotel staff Rudy Jote, and a jeepney conductor identified only as “Toto.”
Police Officers 1 Rogelio Galilando and Dexter Gaño, who were preparing to inspect the package containing the bomb at the scene, were injured in the blast as they were just a few meters away when it exploded.
Seven hours earlier, another explosive device went off in a garment shop in Imelda town of Zamboanga Sibugay, injuring 14-year-old Alraffy Barabadan.
Hours after the explosion at the hotel in Cagayan de Oro, police retrieved another IED, this time placed under a vehicle parked on a street adjacent to the hotel.
Investigators led by SPO2 Dennis Allan Poe Labitad said their initial findings revealed the IEDs were cellphone-activated.
Before the explosion, a hotel front desk receptionist reported to the police a suspicious looking package left by three unidentified men in front of the hotel.
Police said they caught the image of the three men who left the package through the hotel’s CCTV. The suspects reportedly left a plastic bag in front of the Oro Bicycle Store located at the ground floor of the hotel.
A security guard then asked for help from the local police as curious onlookers were already starting to gather around the area.
The bomb exploded just as the responding policemen arrived.