Monday, September 01, 2008 Pursuit operations vs MILF rebels to go on
THE government will not allow lawless Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels to use the Ramadan period to evade authorities as operations against them continue until they are brought to the justice for the “heinous crimes” they committed in the past weeks.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza reiterated that the MILF leadership could either surrender commanders Amerila Umbra Kato alias Kato and Abdullah Saber Macapaar alias Bravo to authorities to stand aside and allow law enforcement authorities to do their job of arresting and bringing them to court to face the criminal charges leveled against them for the attacks in Central Mindanao.
He assured them that utmost sensitivity would be observed by the military and police as they go after the lawless MILF commanders and their followers.
"Let me make it very clear that we will not allow these lawless elements to invoke the Ramadan or hide behind the Ramadan. They have committed not only criminal acts but un-Islamic acts, that’s why the manhunt against them will continue and the Ramadan of course will be taken into account by the law enforcement agencies," he said.
The one-month Ramadan period would start September 1.
Dureza said aside from the pursuit operations, the government together with the private sector would also continue with its relief assistance program to the internally displaced persons (IPDs) in the areas affected by the recent attacks and the ongoing offensives.
Dureza, who is in General Santos City, would meet representatives involved in the peace and development programs in Mindanao like the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to discuss different peace building programs, including aids that are needed by the IPDs.
He said the peace building and relief assistance projects fall under the Act for Peace Program or Act for Conflict Transformation program.
"This is supported by the donor community,” he said.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres, the military’s public information officer, security forces will continue with their pursuit operations against the renegade groups of Kato and Macapaar even during Ramadan.
“The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) needs to sustain its gains in going after the lawless MILF groups. The law enforcement operations will continue and are directed against the perpetrators of un-Islamic acts,” Torres said, referring to the accomplishments the troops have so far achieved.
Soldiers have already captured a number of MILF camps and positions during the past two weeks when the offensive was ordered by the AFP leadership with Macapaar’s group attacked Iligan City and several Lanao del Norte towns that left 28 civilians, three soldiers and a policeman dead.
“We will not allow the LGMs (lawless MILF groups) to hide behind the cloak of religion as that would be disservice to the offended individuals regardless of creed. Government forces will adjust to its law enforcement operations to allow non-LMGs and other Muslims to peacefully observe Ramadan,” said Torres. (JMR/VR/Sunnex)
