By Hassan Hatab

June 28, 2012: Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat continues to defy the need to transfer the location of the International Monitoring Team (IMT)-Teamsite 3 to a freer location outside of the confines of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) formerly Southern Mindanao Command (SouthCom).

Lobregat, a consistent nemesis of the GPH-MILF peace negotiation and Moro empowerment, is a third generation of Spanish creole in the Philippines.

A creole in the Philippines is made up of mixed Spanish and Filipino blood.

Reports received by Luwaran stated that Lobregat has been asked talked to by several high government men, some identified with the government peace panel, but he continued his defiance to this day.

“We cannot understand why the Aquino administration cannot compel Lobregat, a mere mayor, to toe the government line and agree to relocate the IMT sub-office outside of the camp,” one MILF leader based in Zamboanga City commented.

“I am seeing a conspiracy here,” he added, without elaborating.

As early as since 2004, when the first IMT contingent arrived, this problem has already been raised but the government through its peace panel seemed helpless to relocate the IMT sub-office to a location outside of the camp.

IMT Head of Mission-6, Major General Dato Mahdi bin Yusuff even proposed to transfer the site of IMT-Teamsite 3 to Ipil, Zamboanga Sibuagay but it met cold shoulder and it did not materialize.

Governor Rommel Jalosjos of Zamboanga Sibugay was one of those who vehemently opposed the transfer, citing lack of conflict affected areas in his province.

Jalosjos also opposed the investigation by the IMT of the Payao Incident where hundreds of civilians fled as a result of the fighting between government and native armed men, described by government as “kidnappers”.

Several houses were also burned or destroyed  as a result of artillery bombardment.