An evil blight

That has to be the shortest "all-out offensive" ever. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, after declaring total war on government troops this week, is observing a 48-hour unilateral ceasefire starting today. This is a sure sign that the MILF has been crippled, since the only time Muslim rebels stop using force is when they have been greatly weakened. The military is right in suspecting that the MILF will use this ceasefire only to replenish its weapons and ammunition, regroup, bury its dead and regain its strength. But because the deadline set by President Estrada for forging a peace pact with the MILF has not lapsed, the government has no choice but to accept the peace overtures -- after a few more days of shelling the rebels' camps.

The Abu Sayyaf is another story. Children rescued from the clutches of the Islamic fundamentalist group said they were treated like pigs and were beaten up even for minor infractions. Relief goods meant for the hostages ended up in the hands of the terrorists' relatives, the children said. The group also routinely beat their captive priest, Rhoel Gallardo. When the priest was found dead with gunshot wounds, his toenails were missing and his body bore other signs of torture. More gruesome was the fate of a teacher, who was killed together with Gallardo and two others. The teacher's breasts had been chopped off.

Such bestiality can only be the handiwork of sick minds. Torture, mutilation and the execution of innocents cannot be condoned -- not in the police or military, not in any insurgency, not even in a religious war. The Abu Sayyaf, whose aim is to set up a fundamentalist Muslim state independent of the Philippines, is no better than the Nazis or the Khmer Rouge under the murderous Pol Pot. There can be no peace with a group as demented as this. Once government troops get the Abu Sayyaf's remaining hostages, including 20 foreigners, President Estrada must make good his promise to crush this scourge. The Abu Sayyaf is an evil blight that even peace-loving Muslims must help stamp out.