Thursday, August 09, 2007 New defense chief vows to pursue Sayyaf group
NEW Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro set out his priorities as head of the defense department on Wednesday, including the intensified campaign against the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.
In his acceptance speech, the former Tarlac congressman said security forces would be vigorously pursuing the terrorist group, which is responsible for a number of high-profile bombings and kidnappings in the country.
Among the bombings perpetrated by the group was the 2004 bombing of a passenger ship off Manila Bay that resulted in the killing of at least 200 passengers and the 2005 Valentines Day bombings that left at least eight people dead.
"(We'll) be uncompromising against all those who may seek to disobey the law, more particularly terroristic elements and bandits... consistent not only in the law but more importantly with the rule of law," said Teodoro.
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales turned over the defense portfolio to Teodoro after more than a month of handling the post in a concurrent capacity. Gonzales will remain the National Security Adviser.
In a succeeding press conference attended by Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and the other top military brass, Teodoro said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants that the terrorists are pursued without let-up.
"Against all those lawless elements, the instruction of the President is to pursue them with vigor but always under the rule of law," said Teodoro of the Abu Sayyaf, which has about 300 to 400 members at present.
The terrorist group was linked to the July 10 ambush of Marine soldiers in Al-Barka town in Basilan that resulted in the killing of 14 Marine soldiers. Ten of the slain Marines were recovered the following day with their heads off.
"In the Basilan incident, once again we reiterate the policy that we shall pursue the Abu Sayyaf bandits vigorously," said Teodoro.
Teodoro said President Arroyo has directed him to ensure that "we must bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice." He did not say how he intends to address the involvement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the incident.
But he said he is in favor of the resumption of the peace negotiations with threat groups, including with the communists. Talks with communists bogged down in 2004 while the talks with the MILF hit the impasse last year.
"We are in favor of all types of peace process. These processes should be based on good faith and credibility, without sacrificing the security of the public at large," said Teodoro.
Teodoro however said while the government should be pursuing the peace process seriously, "we must not let our guard down on any and all elements that wish to curtail the peace and security of the country."
He also vowed to continue implementing the Philippine Defense Reform Program, a brainchild of resigned defense secretary Avelino Cruz, which seeks to modernize and professionalize the military and defense establishment.
"The Philippine Defense Reform Program is a program of the President, which I intend to continue. We all wish to see the Armed Forces evolve into a truly capable fighting force," the defense official vowed.
"The most perhaps that I can do is to plant the seeds to try to make it happen, to see to it that it is able to protect and defend territorial integrity and security of the republic and the environment which is very important not to us but to our children and their children," he said
He also vowed to focus his attention on responding to calamities, noting that 50 percent of the time of a defense chief is on disaster response. The defense chief is the concurrent chairperson of the National Disaster Coordinating Council.
On the issue of extrajudicial killings which left-leaning organizations are blaming on the military, Teodoro said it remains a policy of the government not to tolerate any form of human rights violations.
However, he said: "We cannot pinpoint blame or culpability against any person without the requisite quantum of evidence." He said he is waiting for the results of the investigation on the killings of the militants and even journalists.
On whether he intends to initiate a reshuffle in the military or in the defense establishment, he said there was no basis to initiate one because he is still not aware of the "actual facts" in the defense and military agencies.
To officers who may be expecting a non-political figure to assume the defense post, Teodoro said: "They are not islands, we are not islands. We are a team. We have sacred and sworn duties under the Constitution to perform and let's perform it the way the law has designed it for us to execute our functions."
On the cases of officers who are under trial for attempting to overthrow the government, Teodoro said he is reserving his comments until the disposition by the civil and military courts of their cases.
"The prosecution and the defense deserve due process and to comment on a pending case would interfere with the integrity and impartiality of the proceedings so I will reserve comment," he added. (VR/Sunnex)
