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Saturday, February 15, 2003
Cotabato war over in 2 days: Reyes
By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE war that has been displacing thousands of residents from the provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat would be over in two days, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes declared during his visit in Pikit, North Cotabato Friday.
Reyes said the AFP is now nearing their objective of taking over the Buliok area in Pikit, believed to be the hideout of lawless criminals.
"The operation is going very well. We are 90 percent finished in terms of the objective given to us by the President to capture and occupy the Buliok environment. Probably a day after tomorrow, this job will be finished," Reyes said.
He added that President Arroyo also ordered the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in looking after the welfare of the thousands of families displaced as a result of the military offensives in the Rajah Mudah complex of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Pikit early this week.
Reyes ordered the Army Engineering to set up sanitary and water facilities in the evacuation centers.
He also told military doctors and nurses to look into the health of the evacuees who are mostly women and children.
Last Thursday, the Provincial Board of North Cotabato also declared the entire province under the state of calamity due to the El Niņo phenomenon and the man-made calamity brought about by the ongoing skirmishes between the Army and the MILF.
Not after MILF
Reyes clarified that they are not specifically running after the MILF contrary to enemies' claim.
He said the military operation in the area is mainly because of the reported presence of lawless and criminal elements hiding in the Rajah Muda complex, a known MILF stronghold.
"We are targeting criminals, lawless elements, bandits, kidnappers, bombers. If these elements happen to be MILF then we attack them. They cannot hide and say they are MILF thus they cannot be assaulted," he added.
He said that it has long been a practice of these elements to hide under the MILF guise whenever the authorities start running after them.
"When it's convenient for them they are MILF and when the MILF wants to disown them they are called the Pentagon," he said.
Reyes said its time for the government to strictly enforce law and order in the area adding that nobody should be exempted from the rule of law.
"We have the rule of law and if you violate the law you cannot hide behind the ceasefire and say you cannot be arrested. You cannot have peace unless the people observe the rule of law," he said.
"This is something we have to do. It's like wanting an omelet. If you want to have an omelet you have to break the eggs. You cannot have omelet without breaking eggs," he added.
Reyes, however, clarified that the government is not closing doors for a peace negotiation. He said the MILF are always welcome for a peaceful negotiation but advised them to be sincere in their dealings with the government.
"We are always open to peace talks but they have to show a little sincerity," he said.
(February 15, 2003 issue)
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