January 10, 2012: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has described government’s concept of Moro convergence before peace will be attained in Mindanao as too shallow and fleeting.

January 9, 2012: The three-day 24th GPH-MILF Exploratory Talks between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Government of the Philippines (GPH) peace negotiators will start today amidst mixing feeling between the two camps, the former expressing optimism that a peace deal would be signed on or before March this year and the latter entertaining doubt whether a real substate territorial governance for Moros is in the offing.

January 10, 2012 – The Central Committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF – CC) spearheaded the first ever reunion since 1972 of the early batches of the Bangsamoro cadre officers at Camp Darapanan last January 8, 2012.

By: Abujanisah Marohomsalic

January 9, 2012: The Cansuyu Charity and Solidarity Organization of Turkey in cooperation with the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and SMD Foundation Academy (SMDFA) carried out relief and medical missions in Barangay Upper Hinaplanon (Cabaro) and Barangay Mandulog, all in the flood-devastated city of Iligan on 4-5 January 2012.

The cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro suffered the brunt of Typhoon Sendong’s fury that hit the traditionally typhoon-free areas of North-Central Mindanao. The massive flooding brought by the tropical depression washed out many homes and vehicles, destroyed public infrastructures such schools, roads and bridges and affected tens of thousands of residents. Human casualty reports vary but government figures revealed that almost two thousand people died and an equal number of people are still missing.

Cansuyu, represented by its Secretary General Mohammed Polat and Yunus Emre, and BDA are founding members of the International Federation for Relief and Development (IFRD), an international alliance that was formally organized recently during the 1st IFRD Leaders Summit 2011 held at Ampang, Malaysia on 09-11 December 2011. It is the mission of IFRD to reach out to communities in need especially those that were hit by natural or man-made calamities.

The assistance extended by Cansuyu came in the form of food items such as rice, noodles and canned goods, potable water, assorted medicines including anti-tetanus injections, sanitary items and cash assistance for victims especially those who were verified to have lost family members.

BDA volunteers were backed up by the almost 100 staff and student-volunteers of the SMD Foundation Academy and SMD General Hospital in Marawi City during the 2-day relief assistance program.

More assistance is forthcoming from other member-organizations of IFRD. “I was personally informed by Haji Jamaliddin, Deputy President of AMAL Foundation Malaysia, another founding member of IFRD, that a team from their group is expected to arrive on 11 January 2012 to extend further relief and medical assistance to victims of Typhoon Sendong,” said BDA chair Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan.

January 8, 2012: The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will reduce its active military battalions from 85 to 81 as the Aquino administration would focus more on the territorial threat posed against the country’s sovereignty especially in the Kalayaan Group.

The new shift in paradigm is anchored on restructuring program and resources to priority areas like maritime security and territorial defense.

January 7, 2012: In a bid to provide more information about its substate proposal, as the form of self-governance for the future Moro political entity, the MILF through its two English websites, has urged both supporters and opponents of the current GPH-MILF peace negotiation to log on the book written by Professor Marku Suksi entitled “Sub-State Governance through Territorial Autonomy: A Comparative Study in Constitutional Law of Powers, Procedures and Institutions.”

January 6, 2011: Army Brig. Gen. Leo Cresente M. Ferrer is the new senior military adviser to the government of the Philippines (GPH) peace panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Ferrer replaced Maj. Gen. Restituto Aguilar who retired last August. Prior to this present assignment, Ferrer was commander of the Task Force General Santos in the 601st Brigade of the Philippine Army.

January 5, 2011: A Marine soldier, who stole a motorcycle in Zamboanga City, was arrested by government operatives early morning Wednesday, January 4.

Nabbed was Marine Private First Class (PFC) Estarlito Depsi, 27, of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-Zamboanga Peninsula (MBLT-9) based in the province of Sulu.