Day: January 28, 2009

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/28 Jan) — The newly constituted government peace panel is now busy preparing for the resumption of talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).  

Marbel Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez, who attended a close-door meeting here today with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said restarting the Mindanao peace talks “wouldn’t be far” because the government has already reconstituted its new peace panel. He predicts it could be as early as February.

KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/28 Jan) — Some 70 families fled their respective homes in Alamada, North Cotabato following renewed attacks by suspected Moro rebels Tuesday morning, a local official said.  

Alamada Mayor Ernesto Concepcion said the situation in the area is still volatile because the 30 or so heavily armed MILF rebels are still in the mountainous portion of the village.

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/28 January) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the creation of a task force that will look into the land conflict that triggered the escalation of violence in two villages in the coastal town of Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat province since last year.