Military demoralized, but peace talks with MILF to continue, says DND

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of National Defense (DND) on Thursday admitted that the military establishment is demoralized as a result of the recent bloody encounter with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) but said that the ongoing peace talks will continue.

“Everybody is practically demoralized especially (since) these are young soldiers (killed),” DND spokesman Zosimo Paredes told reporters in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday when asked about the general sentiment of the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“This is very demoralizing to the rank and file of the AFP. Once demoralization sets in, it is all-encompassing, all negative feelings of a person come out,” he explained.

He also admitted that the defense department “felt very bad” about the incident, which he said “was never expected especially at that magnitude; we were all caught by surprise.”

Nevertheless, Paredes said that though this latest clash is a setback to the ongoing peace negotiations, the government will continue talking peace with the MILF leadership.

“This (encounter) will provide a lag on the ongoing peace process. In spite of this, the peace process shall continue,” Paredes said, adding, though, that he was not privy as to when the talks would resume.

“The government remains very serious and consistent of its desire to once and for all come up with a coherent, effective peace agreement with all forces against the government,” he added.

Some sectors have called for a stop to the ongoing peace negotiations with the MILF’s central leadership following the incident in Basilan. Among those calling for the suspension of peace talks is Muntilupa Representative Rodolfo Biazon, who is the chairman of the House defense committee.

Tuesday’s encounter in Sitio (settlement of) Baisung in Barangay (village) Cambug, Al Barka,  resulted in the killing of 13 soldiers, three of which were junior officers, and the wounding of 12 others. Also recovered were the bodies of six other soldiers earlier reported missing but were allegedly murdered by MILF rebels after the encounter.

Paredes added that President Benigno Aquino III will be holding a command conference in the AFP’s general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on Friday with high-ranking military officials and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to discuss Tuesday’s clash.