Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces have stepped up security yesterday near a major rebel base in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao as thousands of members and supporters converged for a three-day plenum that will start today. Uniformed rebels in charge of security put up their own checkpoint near an army roadblock in the town of Sultan Kudarat near the MILF's Camp Darapanan, stopping civilian vehicles and searching for weapons and explosives. The security officers said they have orders to seize illegal weapons from civilians or other MILF members. "MILF members and civilians who are attending the plenum are not allowed to bring their weapons and we have orders to seize them. We don't want any incident that may sabotage this plenum," one rebel security officer told Arab News. Officials from the both the MILF and the government said they wanted to make sure that saboteurs would not disrupt the peace process.