Arroyo says no all-out war vs MILF; Lanao Sur clash erupts

Written by staff

Tuesday, 26 August 2008 00:00

MANILA, Philippines - The government is not waging an all-out war in Mindanao despite the ongoing military offensive against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), President Arroyo said Monday.

President Arroyo gave the assurance in her speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Global Gateway Logistics City in Clark, Pampanga.

"I say to the Filipinos, to the world, to our Muslim brothers in the South, to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) through our Kuwaiti friends, there is no all out war," the President said.

The remark came as a television report said that the military offensive continued Monday and that it has reached Lanao del Sur.

Military offensive has been ongoing in several provinces in Mindanao since last week as they continue to hunt down the two MILF commanders – Umbra Kato and Abdullah Macapaar alias Kumander Bravo – who led the recent attacks in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte.

President Arroyo the military action is only against the MILF factions under Kato and Macapaar and the MILF organization as a whole. She said the government has never lost its intention to forge a peace agreement with the secessionist group.

"We have never deviated from the objective of the peace process. That peace must be anchored on justice. The rampage of some lawless MILF groups in Mindanao call for resolute military and police action," she said.

She also explained that the targeted MILF units are historically the rebellious forces that have been starting trouble before and during the proceedings of the peace process.

"They are likely the ones to create problems even after a final agreement would be forged between the government and the MILF. So the campaign against them is intended to remove the obstacles to the peace process," she said.

With this, President Arroyo called on Kato and Macapaar as well as their men to surrender, yield their arms, and join the government in working for the development of the war-torn areas in Mindanao.

"We wish for all insurgents to turn their swords into ploughshares, their arms to farms. We ask all sectors to be with us, including our brothers in the OIC," she said.

Earlier in the day, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza appealed to MILF units who are not sympathetic with the rogue MILF commanders to "stand aside" so they will not be "lumped up as one" with the rebels being pursued by authorities for the atrocities in the region.

A P10 million bounty has already been offered by the government for the capture of Kato and Macapaar.

President Arroyo the reward “manifests the government's firm resolve to hasten the neutralization of these criminals, so that justice can be achieved and we can move on with the peace process."

Fighting erupts in Lanao del Sur

Meanwhile, the clashes between the government troops and the MILF have reached the province of Lanao del Sur where some of the rebels being pursued retreated, a GMA Flash Report said.

The report said that the rebels under MILF Kumander Bravo retreated from Lanao del Norte.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro insisted that the military will not halt its operations against the units under Kato and Macapaar.

For its part, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that it was gaining the upper hand in the fight against the MILF.

In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, AFP chief General Alexander Yano said government forces have seized at least 15 camps of the MILF group in the past 72 hours.

He also said that rebel resistance against the military offensives has waned.

As of Monday, the military reported that at least 22 government troopers, including five militiamen, have died and 66 others were injured in 69 violent incidents.

The fighting has also affected 48,089 families or 240,296 persons, it said.- with Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV

Next >

Related Articles
Arroyo orders massive aid to areas ravaged by MILF attacks Arroyo order for fast release of pork barrel meant for Cha-cha railroading - group	Arroyo says no all-out war vs MILF; Lanao Sur clash erupts GMA leads hero’s welcome for Pacquiao

Newsflash

BAGUIO CITY—Filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik, his 92-year-old mother Virginia and his 21-year-old son Kabunian made the world of about 60 schoolchildren go round and round on Saturday with a tale about the first Filipino to circumnavigate the globe.

Google Search

Special Topics

Election 2007

List of Registered Party-List

The Mindanao Conflict

Govt troops capture 15 MILF rebel strongholds

Thousands of troops backed by air and artillery fire have captured 15 Muslim guerrilla strongholds in the southern Philippines after five days of intense fighting, while more than 272,000 villagers...
+ Full Story

More News

Pinoy VOTE

Newsflash

Google Search

Sponsored Links

Special Topics

Election 2007

The Mindanao Conflict

Archive

Alexa Rank

Who's Online

Latest Articles

Popular Articles

Most Read Articles


	WebpinoyVOTE