War Rumours Denied

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31762, 20 August 1968, Page 13

War Rumours Denied

(N.Z.P. A.‘Reuter—Copyright) MANILA, Aug. 19.

The Philippines Government and religious leaders moved quickly today to discredit rumours of a Muslim war against Christians in the north of the province of Cotabato, in the Southern Philippines.

The armed forces’ Chief of Staff (General Manuel Yan), Congressmen, mayors and Muslem leaders denied that there have been MuslimChristian clashes and that a war is impending. General Yan told President Marcos last night there was no truth in the rumours, and Congressman Salipada Pendatun, who comes from Cotabato, told the people of his province not to believe them and to remain calm.

Reports reaching Manila had said Christian families were fleeing from northern

Cotabato after rumours that Muslims were on the verge of revolt because they felt that the central Government was favouring Christians.

The rumours were followed by a report that 26 people had died in a battle between constabulary troops and Muslims in a town called Magpet. But the Mayor of Magpet told Congressman Pendatun and the Chief of the Constabulary (General Vicente Rava!) that there had been no disturbance in the town, which is on Mindanao Island, about 650 miles south-east* of Manila. Mr Pendatun said there had been no tension in the area since 75 police troops from nearby provinces had reinforced the constabulary units in Cotabato last week. Workers returning to the' Philippines from Sabah had reported “a fast military build-up there and fears of an imminent PhilippineMalaysian war,” according to the Philippine Secretary of Labour (Mr Blas Ople) who said yesterday that the continued harrassment of some

26,000 Filipinos in Sabah, together with a military buildup in the area, constituted “grave provocation.” Sworn statements by a group of workers who had recently returned home said the Filipinos in Sabah were “living in a concentration camp atmosphere.”