'No let-up in police operation vs MILF separatist rebels'

DAVAO CITY , Philippines  — Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said there shall be no let-up in the pursuit operations of the Philippine National Police against Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander Ameril Umbra Kato and other rogue separatist rebels despite the declaration of a suspension of military operations.

“The PNP is not covered by any of those agreements. The law enforcement activities of the PNP would continue even with the SOMO. The police would continue to go after Kato and the other rogue elements of the MILF, particularly those who have standing arrest warrants against them,” Puno told reporters during a sortie here Friday.

Puno said law enforcement activities should not be mistaken for military operations. “Military operation is different from police operation. Military operations could be indiscriminate. The police would go after those who have standing warrants of arrest against them,” Puno said.

This, as the Armed Forces of the Philippines shall also continue with its pursuit operations against Kato and other MILF commanders who have been responsible for a series of attacks on military encampments as well as civilian communities in north and Cotabato last year.

“The SOMO, however, should not be viewed as a face about on our promise to bring (Ameril Umbra) Kato and his men to the bar of justice,” said Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer.

Ferrer said that law enforcement operations against the lawless MILF group shall continue with the AFP playing a supporting role to the PNP.

Ferrer said, “It has been more than a year since our punitive operations against Kato and his men started. The peace negotiation with the mainstream MILF was sidetracked during that time and its resumption is much awaited,” Ferrer further said.         – Edith Regalado