Military operations to continue – Lacierda

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang Monday declared that military operations will be sustained against lawless elements in Mindanao and cautioned the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) from coddling any of these outlaws.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda acknowledged that the rebel group may have violated the ceasefire agreement if they gave safe haven to these criminals blamed for the October 18 attack that killed 19 soldiers in Basilan.

Lacierda made the remarks after the MILF leadership reportedly announced it will continue to protect Dan Laksaw Asnawi, one of the rebels the military has been trying to capture in Al-Barka.

Asnawi, a senior MILF commander in Basilan, is wanted by authorities for his alleged involvement in the beheading of 14 Marines in 2007.

"My understanding we will pursue lawless elements and that's we went to Basilan. We leave the operational details with the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police)," Lacierda said in a phone interview with reporters, when asked about the MILF's support for Asnawi.

"Insofar as the ceasefire agreement is concerned, the MILF cannot harbor criminal elements. That is in violation of the ceasefire agreement," Lacierda said.

Meanwhile, Von Al-Haq, MILF spokesman for military affairs, yesterday conceded that the Area of Temporary Stay (ATS) was an interim arrangement between the government and the Moro rebels, but a bigger aspect of the Mindanao peace process could be violated if either side fails to adhere to it.

Al-Haq said this is the Implementing Administrative Guidelines of the GRP-MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities signed on Sept. 12, 1997 in Cagayan de Oro City.

He recalled that the ATS was a space reserved for members of the MILF and their families as well as other civilians when the Armed Forces launched in 2007 pursuit operation against Abu Sayyaf bandits who beheaded Marine elements. It was to prevent any misencounter between the military and the MILF forces, he said.

Genalyn Kabiling, Manila Bulletin