|
Monday, June 02, 2003
Gov't junks truce, orders attacks v. MILF
MANILA -- Government soldiers will continue their offensive against Moro separatist guerillas despite an offer of a unilateral truce from the rebel group, President Arroyo's spokesman said Sunday.
And if needed, some 500 battle-tested military troopers in Northern Luzon are ready for deployment in southern Mindanao to support the all-out war against the Moro rebels, said the military.
The spokesman of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) reiterated the group's plans to call a unilateral truce starting Monday, to give the government a chance to resume formal peace talks.
But Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the President has already said "there has been no show of sincerity" from the MILF.
"Instead of sticking to the proposed truce, the MILF has even continued attacking civilians so we don't see this as a sincere and genuine (peace) offer."
He cited the continued clashes involving the MILF, including fighting on Saturday that claimed the lives of seven government militiamen and 16 MILF rebels.
Soldiers clashed with MILF fighters and their allies in the so-called Pentagon kidnapping gang near Pagalunggan town in Maguindanao province on Saturday, resulting in several deaths.
On standby
Lt. Col. Elmer Quiros, group commander of the AFP Civil Relations Service in the Cordillera and Ilocos, said in an interview that military troopers are on standby status in Isabela, Cagayan Region.
But so far, there has been no directive for the deployment of the soldiers to Mindanao. Maybe because the 7th Infantry Division still has one brigade and three battalions controlled by the 6th ID in Central Mindanao.
Quiros said the soldiers would still serve their purpose even while in the Cagayan region, especially as the military just received reports that New People's Army (NPA) in Northern Luzon was massing up its force for renewed offensives.
President Arroyo suspended informal peace talks with the MILF on May 6 after a series of raids and bombings on civilian targets which were blamed on the 12,500-strong rebel group.
Arroyo had previously threatened to formally brand the MILF as terrorists if the group did not disavow terrorism by June 1. Such a move would severely hinder any further attempt to reopen peace talks.
Bunye said that before taking further action, Arroyo was still awaiting input from Foreign Secretary Blas Ople who has just attended an Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting. The OIC has brokered peace talks between Manila and Muslim rebels in the past.
Resume action
Even if government does not reciprocate, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the rebels would stick by their 10-day truce.
"We have orders, the MILF forces should hold their positions and defend themselves against attacks (when the truce takes effect)," he stressed.
He, however, warned the MILF would resume military action if Manila does not respond to the peace gesture by June 12.
Kabalu said there had been no reports of new fighting although the military was still shelling MILF positions in the southern Philippine province of North Cotabato.
The MILF, which has been fighting for over two decades to set up an Islamic state in Mindanao, has denied it engages in terrorism or is linked with terror groups.
Also on Saturday, elite military Rangers overran an MILF camp in the southern province of Lanao del Norte and discovered the body of a soldier who was captured by the MILF in May and possibly killed by the rebels.
Military spokesman Colonel Francis Simbajon said troops also discovered fortified bunkers, four M203 grenade launchers, several rockets and MILF uniforms. However the rebels had already fled the area. AFP/Sun.Star Pampanga
(June 2, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here.
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
 |
| click
to comment on this article or discuss it with other readers |
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
