AFP: No halt to air strikes vs MILF

MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday dismissed reports that President Arroyo had ordered a halt in air strikes against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, even as fighting erupted anew with 20 rebels killed by government troops in Sarangani province.

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres denied reports that President Arroyo had ordered the military to call off air strikes against the rebels following consultations with various groups from Mindanao.

“There is no such instruction from the President,” Torres said.

Malacañang also made no mention of the supposed commitments made by Mrs. Arroyo with the Mindanao People’s Caucus.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said that he was not present during the closed-door meeting between the President and the Mindanao People’s Caucus last Thursday at Malacañang, and could not provide any official statement on the outcome of the meeting.

While declining to comment on the supposed orders of the President, Dureza maintained there were no air strikes or bombings by the military in Central Mindanao.

When asked if the air strikes referred to had something to do with the incident in the Liguasan Marsh last Monday, Dureza said it was just one incident and that no bombing took place.

Last Monday’s bombing resulted in the death of several civilians when planes bombed several boats with civilians suspected to be rebels on board.

Dureza said operational guidelines of the military during the observance of Ramadan remain, including the suspension of artillery and air strikes unless necessary.

The military also denied reports of bombing a mosque in Sarangani that triggered the clashes last Friday.

Rico said fighting broke out after government troops overran a rebel camp located in the jungles of Maasin town, leaving 20 rebels dead.

Rico said the rebels were killed while trying to defend their enclave in Sitio Maca Uno, Barangay Daliao.

He said Army troops succeeded in assaulting the MILF camp that was defended by over 100 rebels.

“Of the 100 rebels, 12 of them were assigned as outer security. And it was when the 12 were doing their regular security patrol that the members of the 73rd IB spotted them,” Rico said.

Rico said the troops decided to tail the 12 rebels to the camp where over a hundred other rebels were resting.

The military said up to 20 rebels had died in the violence but no bodies were recovered, while an MILF statement said one guerrilla and 10 soldiers were killed.

The MILF accused the Army of attacking its fighters as they prayed in a mosque, a claim denied by the military.

“There is no mosque in that area and we did not attack a mosque like the MILF said,” regional Army spokesman Lt. Col. Roland Bautista said.

Sarangani police director Senior Superintendent Danilo Peralta also belied reports that troops attacked a mosque, saying it was a very remote area.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) also denied reports that the President had ordered a stop to the distribution of shotguns to members of civilian auxiliary forces in Mindanao.

DILG Assistant Secretary Bryan Yamsuan said the issuance of shotguns to civilian auxiliary forces still stands.

“We don’t have any order coming from the President to stop the issuance of shotguns for our civilians volunteer forces in Mindanao,” Yamsuan said, adding the PNP is sending 1,000 new policemen to Mindanao.

PNP deputy chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said the shotguns would be used by qualified civilian volunteers to defend their communities against rebel attacks.

“Our civilian police auxiliaries will serve as defenders of their communities under the direct supervision of the local police in coordination with the local government units,” Verzosa said.

“The police and the CVOs will be defending their territories while leaving the military to do the offensive and tactical maneuvers against the (rebels),” he said.

Several cause-oriented groups slammed the distribution of shotguns to police civilian volunteers, claiming this move would only trigger more trouble in the south. – With Marvin Sy, Edith Regalado