Palace assures slain soldiers’ families of justice ‘at the right time’

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang sought, on Saturday, to ease the pain and anger caused by the deaths of soldiers in the hands of members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, with whom the government has been negotiating peace, by saying justice would be done “at the right place, at the right time.”

Undersecretary Abigail Valte, President Benigno Aquino’s deputy spokesperson, indicated Aquino’s decision to forego an all-out offensive against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front doesn’t mean the administration has been undermining the martyrdom of the 19 soldiers who died last week in Al-Barka.

“Let us just stress. We are seeking justice at the right place, at the right time. This doesn’t mean we’re undermining the sacrifice they have taken. That was the farthest thing from the truth,” Valte said over government-run radio station dzRB.

Valte said the administration understood that emotions have been running high because of the MILF’s attack on the members of the Special Forces that were in Al-Barka to serve a warrant of arrest against a Moro commander suspected of involvement in past war atrocities but added that decisions should be made with calm.

Told that the Filipino people—President Aquino’s boss—want the military to go after the MILF, Valte said, “Let us just reiterate, the human cost of war will be too great. That’s what the President said yesterday.”

“We understand, believe us, we understand the views and sentiments. We are also part of the nation, we’re not different from you, but as the President said, we have to think when we are calm so that we can lay down our plans because we can’t be reckless ,” Valte said.

“Because if we do that there would be more lives that will be lost. Even if emotions are running high, we have to be calm when we take our next steps,” she added.

Valte said pursuit operations have been ongoing against the lawless elements that figured in the clashes. She added that there were also mechanisms under the peace process to seek justice against those from the MILF.

“The pursuit against lawless elements continues. The President has already said that. In connection with the incident in Zamboanga Sibugay (against the PNP), our operations continue there. The pursuit against those behind the attack continues,” Valte said.

“For us, there are mechanisms, there are existing mechanisms that we can avail of under the peace agreement and we will be telling you more of that in the coming days… Like in the case of those responsible for the deaths of the 19 soldiers, the military will be filing charges,” she added.