Thursday, August 07, 2008
Yano: We will protect civilians in Mindanao (11:15 a.m.)
ARMED Forces chief Alexander Yano on Wednesday assured that government soldiers will protect the civilians as the military continue to monitor developments in Mindanao brought about by the aborted signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
"While we are closely monitoring and continuously assessing the turn of events related to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)-MILF peace process, our mandate remains clear -- to protect the Filipino people and preserve the sovereignty of the state," said Yano.
Yano made the remarks after North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piņol alleged that presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. told the local government executive that soldiers would not sacrifice their lives in case MILF rebels attack the province.
Piņol is one of those who asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the signing of the MOA.
A day before the supposed signing of the agreement last Tuesday, the SC issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the signing, pending arguments on the petition. (VR/Sunnex) |
