Aquino rules out all-out war vs MILF anew

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III on Monday afternoon reiterated that the government will not wage an all-out-war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) amid calls for the suspension of peace negotiations with and launching of attacks against the Muslim rebels.

“We will not pursue all-out-war, instead we will pursue all-out-justice,” said the commander-in-chief in a press conference held in Malacañang Monday, which was aired live on television.

Aquino added that the military will conduct intensified operations to arrest the rebels who were responsible for the series of ambushes against government security forces, which left 28 soldiers dead.

“The state will find them (perpetrators), the only question is when,” Aquino said.

On Monday the military made aerial pursuit operations against a band of rebel groups in Zamboanga Sibugay led by Juaning Abdulsalam, in the process bombing an MILF camp.

The military claimed that Abdulsalam is also a commander of the MILF.