Monday, August 11, 2008 AFP: It's not an all-out war By Carlo P. Mallo
AN ALL-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is not out of the drawing board yet, but neither is it in, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Major General Armando Cunanan of the Eastern Mindanao Command said the decision to wage an all out war against the MILF group is a decision that must be made by the executive.
He added that the AFP is only an instrument of the government that will follow the orders of the commander-in-chief.
"Whatever they decide, we will execute," Cunanan added.
Moreover, the Eastmincom chief also said even as they uphold the primacy of the peace process in their dealings with the rebel group, he is not stopping his soldiers from fighting back when the situation calls for it.
"They also have to defend themselves," Cunanan said.
Various groups in the provinces of North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat are now reportedly arming themselves in preparation for any attempt of the MILF to harass them.
AFP Chief of Staff General Alexander Yano has vowed to protect the Filipino people and preserve the sovereignty of the state.
Yano was also reported to have said that there is no policy restraining the military from defending the Filipino people from any threat regardless of his creed, political belief, and ideological position.
The AFP chief of staff also gave his assurance to the people of North Cotabato that the AFP is capab]e and aptly equipped to address the threats besetting them.
