INSISTS: NO ALL-OUT WAR!
[PHOTO
-
SLOW DRAG Not the weight of their boots nor the load on their
shoulders, but the heavy mix of pride and sadness drags the feet of these
soldiers in each mournful step across the tarmac of the old airport in Sasa,
Davao City Friday, October 21, 2011, as they follow the shadow of the casket of
their fallen friend and comrade, PFC Erwin D. Dequito, killed in the recent
battle in Basilan. (Photo by RUBY THURSDAY)]
MANILA,
OCTOBER 22, 2011 (BULLETIN)
Two days after the Basilan bloodbath where the military lost 19 officers and
soldiers, eight more government men – four Army troopers and four policemen –
were killed while eight others were wounded in separate ambuscades staged by
armed men suspected to be members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in
Zamboanga Sibugay Thursday night.
Colonel Santiago Baluyot told the Agence France Presse (AFP) that four
soldiers were killed and six wounded in the first ambush, while another soldier
was missing.
A soldier was wounded in an MILF ambush on another military truck two hours
later, and four policemen were killed in a third ambush shortly afterwards,
Baluyot said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported only seven fatalities.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz said the first incident took
place at about 7:21 p.m. in Barangay Gulayon, Alicia town. A convoy of
government troopers were passing by the area when armed men, believed to be MILF
members, opened fire at them.
The incident left four soldiers dead – MSgt. Saidale Dimasar, TSgt. Jin-Nurain
Ajijul, Cpl. Reynaldo Salazar,a still unidentified trooper. Six others were
wounded.
One soldier, MSgt Antonio Gerangue, was initially reported missing but the
military said he has been accounted for.
The troops belonging to the 9th Field Artillary Battalion were reportedly on
their way back to their headquarters when attacked.
At about 11:15 p.m. on the same day, suspected MILF members carried out
another attack when they ambushed a convoy of joint military and police
personnel at Barangay Simbol in Kabalasan.
Three policemen, one of them an officer, were killed in the second incident.
They were Inspector Jose Calibugar, Senior Police Officer 1 Lito Arcenal, and a
certain Police Officer 2 Tayan.
Another policeman, PO1 Capitana of the Kabasalan municipal police station,
and a soldier, Pfc. Hermes Sagario of the Army 53IB were also wounded as a
result of the incident.
The military and police in the province have increased their alert status
because of the twin incidents.
FROM PHILSTAR
P-Noy: No all-out war, peace must be won completely
By Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star) Updated October 21, 2011 12:00 AM
[PHOTO
- President Aquino is joined by Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Orabe, Leyte Gov.
Carlos Petilla and US Ambassador Harry Thomas at the MacArthur Landing Memorial
in Palo, Leyte yesterday. WILLY PEREZ]
PALO, Leyte, Philippines – President Aquino yesterday brushed aside
suggestions for "all out war" against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
and suspension of the ceasefire to go after rebels that killed 19 soldiers in
Al-Barka, Basilan on Tuesday.
Aquino maintained the incident would not derail the government effort to
secure peace with the MILF.
"Nobody gets to benefit in a war," Aquino said in a speech here commemorating
the Leyte Gulf landing of Allied Forces in 1944.
Aquino also extended his condolences to the families of the soldiers killed
in the attacks in Basilan.
Aquino led the 67th anniversary of Leyte Gulf Landing here when US Gen.
Douglas McArthur made true his promise to return to the Philippines and liberate
Filipinos from Japanese forces at that time.
In a speech he delivered commemorating the Leyte landing, Aquino said the war
his government would also want to win is that of poverty, where Filipinos have
been neglected by the previous government, as it only took care of its own.
"I do not have to tell you that these days, the battle has moved fronts. We
live in a time of relative peace, and yet there remain challenges we must face
head on. What oppresses our people now are poverty, lack of education, and lack
of proper health care," he said.
"Surely, if we hold strong, and if we pursue our shared aspirations where
once we were divided, then we can move our respective countries forward and
enjoy a large measure of mutual success. Let us remember: the war is over, the
peace needs to be won completely," Aquino declared.
At the same time, Aquino expressed his disappointment at how the situation
has turned out in Mindanao.
"There is a saying that if one rotten egg is found in a basket of eggs, it
doesn't mean that the whole batch of them are rotten," Aquino explained to
reporters in a chance interview here.
This is the reason why a thorough investigation of the Basilan clashes should
be made, where government troops were at the losing end, to find out what really
happened, he said.
"And if you know the details of what really happened then we could take the
appropriate course of direction. We should not jump into conclusion that could
be irresponsible," Aquino stressed.
Aquino maintained though that he was not satisfied with the way things were,
citing an instance when several Marines were killed also in Mindanao, which
could have served as a lesson for state forces not to have a repeat of such
similar circumstances.
Imposing sanctions by way of relieving several commanders in the area is not
the only solution, according to Aquino, but that a thorough investigation should
be made to determine who really should be held responsible.
Malacañang said it was committed to pursue the path to peace but the attack
against the soldiers in Basilan by the MILF was "unacceptable" and would be
dealt with accordingly.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino was "really angry" after
learning of the incident and immediately ordered an investigation.
"He was informed by the (Armed Forces of the Philippines) chief of staff two
days ago. We don't know yet at that time the forces that killed our soldiers. Of
course, he was really angry that our soldiers were killed," Lacierda said.
As Aquino asked for information about the encounter, AFP chief Gen. Eduardo
Oban sent Maj. Gen. Irineo Espino, AFP inspector general, to Basilan to
investigate the incident.
Espino met with Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer
yesterday on a briefing on the incident.
Based on initial information sent to Malacañang, there was "failure of
communication" on the part of the military, Lacierda said.
He said they were told that the military units that clashed with the rebels
failed to inform the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH)
about the operation in Sitio Bakisung, Barangay Cambug.
Lacierda pointed out the incident was "isolated" but the soldiers should not
have been fired at by the MILF.
He said this was not acceptable since a ceasefire agreement existed and the
response of MILF was beyond what was expected.
Lacierda also said the incident was "frustrating" for the government, which
had been pushing for peaceful means to resolve the problem in Mindanao.
Lacierda said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process,
led by Secretary Teresita Deles and peace panel to the MILF chief Marvic Leonen,
would coordinate with the CCCH and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group before the
government would come out with an official stand on the incident.
He said the government would also make sure that the incident would be
brought up before the peace negotiating table.
A total of 19 soldiers were killed and 12 others were wounded after they were
attacked by MILF guerrillas in Al-Barka, Basilan on Tuesday.
The military said the troops were under orders to pursue a bandit group who
was believed to be holding some kidnap victims in the area. The military
maintained they did not encroach on the MILF's area of temporary stay (ATS)
denying rebel claims that the soldiers encroached in the area and triggered the
firefight.
'Not an isolated case'
The soldiers' killing came two months after the meeting between President
Aquino and MILF leader Al Haj Murad in Tokyo last August.
There had been suggestions to suspend the ceasefire agreement with the MILF
and go after the rebels.
The military suggested a temporary suspension of ceasefire with the MILF to
allow the authorities to enforce the law against the lawless elements.
"If I would be asked, if my opinion would be asked, clearly, what should be
done is to pursue the MILF (involved in the incident), suspend the cessation of
hostilities especially in Basilan, in that area," Army spokesman Col. Antonio
Parlade said in an interview with ANC.
"I'm sure this would not be the last time or the last incident. I think this
is the eighth or ninth they (MILF) have done this. Every time we engage with the
Abu Sayyaf, suddenly, there are MILF (members) in that area," he added.
Parlade, a member of the Army's Special Forces to which the slain soldiers
belonged, said the MILF is not likely to turn over to authorities its members.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile also urged the government to take
immediate and decisive action against the MILF and if necessary, put an end to
the ongoing peace process with the group because of its latest actions.
Enrile said the government could not afford to continue using kid gloves on
the MILF especially in response to the deaths of 19 soldiers.
He said there could not be any peace process when one side is engaging the
other in combat even when there is an existing ceasefire agreement.
Enrile was particularly critical of Secretary Deles who continued to express
optimism about the peace negotiations in spite of the incident.
Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon also called for the suspension of peace talks
with the MILF and the launching of pursuit operations against the rebels.
Biazon said negotiations with the MILF must be called off until "certain
fundamental issues are clarified, such as what is the MILF in relation to other
terror groups?"
"Also what are these so-called MILF territories? I don't agree with the
concept that the government cannot enforce the law in these territories. We
cannot grant them territories in that context," he said.
"What should be the role of the MILF in all these?" he asked.
Biazon also scored the government peace panel as describing the incident as
an isolated case.
"This is not an isolated case. These ambushes and beheading have repeatedly
happened. What makes me wonder is that why these often happen in the same
barangay," Biazon said. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he was "very much
dismayed" by the deaths of the soldiers, including the young officers.
He said the possible laxity of the local military commanders should also be
looked into.
"Despite this tragic event, we must not lose sight of the peace process,"
Belmonte said.
Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad also said the government should not lose sight
of the peace process despite the incident.
He added the MILF attack on the government troops was an isolated case and
"that is why the peace talks should just be continued."
Leonen said despite last Tuesday's incident, the talks between the government
and the MILF will continue next month.
Leonen also urged the MILF leadership to coordinate any movements of its
troops to the AFP to prevent another encounter.
He said the government is seriously disturbed by reports it is currently
receiving from the military ground commanders and its chain of command.
"Under existing ceasefire guidelines, large movements of troops of the MILF
should be coordinated with our AFP," Leonen pointed out.
Leonen said the government is also concerned about the composition of the
MILF's 114th base command.
"If some of its elements have standing warrants for common crimes,
furthermore, the rules of armed conflict, which both sides adhere to, prohibit
the taking of personal belongings of those who are dead and wounded," he said.
Leonen said these rules also prescribe proper decorum vis-a-vis those who are
wounded in battle.
Leonen said he has already ordered the government's Coordinating Committee on
the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) to aggressively facilitate the investigation
and make a report immediately on the complaints filed by Wesmincom on violations
of the ceasefire, murder and frustrated murder against the MILF rebels that
figured in the firefight with the troops.
Leonen said it requires an investigation and eventually a report to both
panels.
"Again, I reiterate that it was made clear to us that the operations of the
government's security forces were not directed at the MILF. The results of the
investigation done within our ceasefire mechanism will be assessed and,
depending on its findings, may certainly weigh heavily on the peace process," he
said.
Leonen said the ceasefire with the MILF is an important agreement for the
government.
"Its faithful implementation is necessary to provide the conditions for
negotiations to proceed in earnest," he said.
Leonen said he would bring up the incident to the government-MILF peace
table.
Recovered
The joint ceasefire committee led by Brig. Gen. Ariel Bernardo, chairman of
the government's ceasefire panel, has started investigating the incident.
This developed as the military launched pursuit operations against the MILF
guerrillas involved in the attack.
On the other hand, the two remaining missing soldiers of the Army's Special
Forces have been recovered on Wednesday and yesterday.
One of the recovered missing soldiers suffered a gunshot on his left leg and
was brought to the Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City. Doctors said
the still unnamed soldier managed to stay alive even though his wounds were
already infected and needs a heavy dose of antibiotics.
The other missing soldier was identified as Army Pfc. Michael Natividad who
was recovered in a jungle somewhere near Al-Barka, officials said.
The recovery of the two soldiers who were earlier reported missing accounts
for all the troops that figured in a firefight with the MILF in Basilan on
Tuesday, Wesmincom spokesman Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang said.
Wesmincom chief Lt. General Raymundo Ferrer directed the military forces in
Basilan to go after the MILF rebels responsible for the attack, even if the
gunmen have sought refuge in the so-called MILF area of temporary stay.
The gunmen were led by a certain Dan Laksaw Asnawi, said to be a deputy
commander of the MILF's Bangsamoro Islamic Forces' 114th Base Command, who is
wanted for killing and beheading 14 Marines in Al-Barka in 2007.
Ferrer said they are closely coordinating with the CCCH to allow troops to
enter the ATS in Al-Barka and go after Asnawi and his men.
Ferrer also vowed to file charges of multiple murder and frustrated murder
against the gunmen for the killing of the soldiers and gross violation of the
ceasefire against the MILF.
"Since the MILF have already claimed responsibility for engaging our
soldiers, we shall not only file ceasefire violations against them but also
murder and frustrated murder charges against their members who are responsible
for the killing and wounding of our soldiers," he said.
Ferrer said their initial findings revealed the firefight occurred outside
the MILF's ATS.
Ferrer said the troops were on a mission to go after the group of Long Malat
when they were attacked.
'Merciless'
One of the soldiers who survived narrated the attackers had been "merciless,"
leaving no one alive, sparing not even those who were already dead.
Army Pfc. Mario Flora said the rebels apparently waited in ambush when
soldiers entered a remote village in Sitio Bakisung, Barangay Cambug on the
early Tuesday morning.
Flora said they initially saw a woman spiriting away her child at the break
of dawn before gunfire blazed from several directions.
"Everyone of us, who were alarmed at the scene seeing a woman with a child
evacuating that early, dropped then came several snipers fires from many
directions," Flora said.
He said enemies flanked them on all corners, firing with high-powered
firearms and rifle grenades. Flora said gunmen on motorcycles arrived and joined
in the firefight.
"They came in many directions. Those in the houses were even firing. There
was no way to run as it turned out like a killing zone," he said.
Flora could only estimate about 200 rebels attacked them, including those
occupying the houses in the village.
He said rebel snipers particularly focused on their squad heavy gunners and
radiomen that resulted in weakening of their defenses.
"As they heard our wounded buddies agonizing in pain they signaled the
assault chanting 'Alahu Akbar' (God is great) and rushed in for the finish. My
companions who were already killed were finished off," Flora said.
Flora said he noticed his buddies on the sides were already dead while he
slowly retreated, rolling to the bushes under enemy fire.
He said the rebels took their weapons and even used them against the soldiers
trying to escape the killing zone.
"Yong iba (kung mga kasama) na patay pinagtataga pa (Some of my colleagues
who were already dead were even hacked)," Flora said.
He said the rebels had no mercy on the soldiers wounded or dead and those
captives as they were executed and mutilated.
Flora said the military helicopter was trying to provide reinforcement but
was met with hostile ground fire.
He said the rebels were firing RPGs (rocket propelled grenades) to the
helicopter before they finally reached another high ground where they were
finally rescued.
Flora said heavy artillery was not provided since they would be too close for
possible artillery bombardment.
According to Flora, all he could remember was at least four of them had been
wounded while another managed to reach safety. – With
Aurea Calica, Roel Pareño, Alexis Romero, Marvin Sy, Jose Rodel Clapano, John
Unson, Evelyn Macairan, Jaime Laude
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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