Gov. Adiong denies presence of jihadist group in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 14 (PIA) – Provincial Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. denied reports on alleged presence of a jihadist group called Khalifah Islamiah in the province. 

"I have not heard of Khalifah Islamiah before and this group is not from Lanao del Sur," said Adiong in a press conference on August 12. 

The group, believed to have links with the Jemaah Islamiah, is allegedly behind the spate of bombings in Mindanao. 

“Ang grupo lang dito sa Lanao del Sur ay ang Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) at ang Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at hindi naman sisirain ng MILF ang kanilang mga pag-uusap sa gobyerno,” Adiong said. 

(Only two groups exist in the province, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the MILF will not derail the on-going peace talks with the government.) 

When asked on the extent of support of Lanao del Sur on the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF peace talks, Adiong said he is confident that his constituents is fully supportive to the peace process. 

“Gusto naming matuloy ang peace agreement at Bangsamoro at walang Muslim dito ang humaharang nito (We want the peace agreement between government and the Bangsamoro to succeed and no Muslim opposes this)," he said. 

Adiong also disclosed that the five governors and nine representatives in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) had an initial talk with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) that they will lead the campaign on the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro entity if it will push through. 

The Framework Agreement was signed last October 2012 while the Annex on Transitional Arrangements and Modalities and the Annex on Revenue Generation and Wealth Sharing was signed February and July of this year, respectively. 

The GPH-MILF peace panels are in the process of negotiation on the two remaining annexes on normalization and power sharing. 

These four annexes together with the Framework Agreement will complete the comprehensive peace agreement.