2 soldiers killed in MILF attack

COTABATO CITY -- Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, driven away by state forces from critical stretches of the Secretary Narciso Ramos Highway, gunned down two soldiers in Buldon, Maguindanao over the weekend.

As this developed, the MILF leadership said it was doubtful peace negotiations with the government would resume on May 30, citing the continued offensive launched by soldiers on rebel lairs.

The Army's 6th Infantry Division said attacks on mi-litary positions came after rebels strengthened forces in Barangay Mataya and blocked the road to the Buldon town proper.

"The attacks could have been carried out to divert attention of government forces now securing the highway," said Maj. Julieto Ando, civil-military chief of the Army's 6th Infantry Division.

Buldon is less than 10 kilometers from Camp Abubakar, the MILF's main enclave.

Ando identified the slain soldiers as Cpl. Rogelio Herran and Pvt. Jovani Legaspi, both of the Army's 47th Infantry Battalion.

Both men were on their way to fetch water from a spring not far from their detachment in Barangay Bulatawan when they came under heavy rocket and machinegun fire.

Rebels simultaneously attacked other Army positions nearby, prompting soldiers to return fire with M-60 machineguns and shoulder-fired M-79 grenades to prevent the rebels from closing in.

The military is now strengthening its position along the highway in Maguindanao in the wake of moves by rebels to regain control of it.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Rafael Romero said they have already established detachments along the 148-kilometer Secretary Narciso Ramos Highway.

"Our troops are conducting clearing operations especially against MILF bunkers along the highway," Romero said.

Meanwhile, Moner Bajunaid, chairman of the MILF's technical committee, said they would return to the negotiating table only if the military stops its offensive, and if the government panel promises to honor all the previous agreements signed since talks started in 1997. "Talks cannot resume when it is clear that the military is bent on getting Camp Abubakar," Bajunaid said.

He said the recent developments have made it impossible for a settlement to be reached on or before the June 30 deadline set by President Estrada.

"At first, the June 30 deadline seemed really possible. We were all looking forward to it until the military started assaulting our camps last March. And with all the hostilities now, we doubt if any settlement can be reached," Bajunaid said.

While Army troops from the 6th and 4th Infantry Battalions are already positioned within striking distance of Camp Abubakar, ground commanders have not received orders to launch an attack.

Last week, soldiers secured "Langkong Crossing," a portion of the Secretary Narciso Ramos Highway which is a virtual gateway to Camp Abubakar.

Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said yesterday that a successful attack on the camp would not guarantee the end of the Mindanao conflict.

"We are constantly aware that a military solution to the problem will not suffice," Mercado said.

In Manila, two senators who were major players in the 1986 EDSA people power revolt warned the government against halting its offensive on Camp Abubakar, saying this would trigger massive demoralization in the military.

Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Gregorio Honasan said the military must be allowed to complete its objective of destroying the camp and reducing the capabilities of the rebels.

"Our troops have already suffered hundreds of casualties. To order a halt or a ceasefire would bring demoralization in the Armed Forces," Enrile said during his weekly radio program.

The senator, a long time defense minister of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, said sparing Camp Abubakar would allow the rebels to regroup and strengthen their forces.

"Destroy it, raze it... if possible. Finish this thing in the quickest possible manner," Enrile said.

He warned that a halt of military operations would result in a protracted war.

"The government should not maintain an urong-sulong (advance and withdraw) policy in dealing with secessionist rebels in Mindanao," he said.

Honasan, for his part, said military commanders in the frontlines must be given a free hand in carrying out their objectives.

He lamented that the lack of a clear-cut peace policy has resulted in a vicious cycle of "offensives, ceasefires and peace talks."

"The government must lay down a concrete policy on how to deal with the secessionist problem in the South," Honasan, a former Army colonel, said. -- With Edith Regalado, Mike Frialde, Perseus Echeminada