Wednesday, July 25, 2007 Military camp on red alert amid possible spillover By Carlo P. Mallo
THE military's Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) has been placed on red alert following the go-signal given by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon to conduct selective offensive against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Basilan.
An MILF leader earlier cited a possibility of a spillover of the Basilan hostilities to other Mindanao areas.
Major Randolph Cabangbang, Eastmincom spokesperson, said Tuesday they are "prepared for any possible spillover of hostilities from Basilan."
Esperon has approved Tuesday the selective offensive against what they perceive as active yet rogue elements of the MILF.
The conflict between the military and the MILF escalated after Marine troopers were ambushed in an MILF-controlled area on July 10 during the height of the rescue operations for Italian priest Fr. Giancarlo Bossi.
The clash resulted in the death of 14 Marine soldiers, 10 of whom were brutishly mutilated and beheaded.
"We are on red alert to address the possible spill over of hostilities," Cabangbang said.
He asserted that they are securing the vital installations in the area as well as all exit and entry points in the area.
