MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz said the so-called “area of temporary stay” for Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in Al-Barka, Basilan no longer exists.
He said such temporary arrangement with Moro rebels during a military operation years ago will not stop them from pursuing those believed responsible for the October 18 killing of 19 Special Forces troops in Al-Barka even if these outlaws are inside so-called “MILF-influenced communities.”
Ortiz reiterated that the MILF should surrender its Basilan commander Dan Laksaw Asnawi, who bolted from jail in 2009 to escape trial for killing 14 Marines, 10 of whom were beheaded, also in Al-Barka back in 2007.
“This ATS (in Al-Barka) was established in 2007 as a result of the encounter where ten Marines were beheaded. An ATS was established for MILF rebels so they will not get in the way (of pursuit operations). After the termination of operations, the ATS was also terminated. So technically there’s no ATS,” Ortiz told reporters in Fort Bonifacio.
The military has demanded that the MILF turn over Asnawi and suspected Abu Sayyaf leader Long Malat who, it said, led the ambush of Special Forces troops last Oct. 18 that killed 19 soldiers and wounded 14 others.
The MILF has refused to surrender Asnawi and asked for an investigation of the encounter, claiming the Special Forces troops did not coordinate their operation beforehand.
“Our pursuit operations are ongoing. We are mandated to pursue the group of Malat and Asnawi anywhere they may be found,” Ortiz said.
He said that if the wanted outlaws are found inside “MILF-influenced communities, we are mandated to enforce the law to capture and neutralize them.”
“We are mandated to implement the law … We are appealing to MILF to surrender them,” Ortiz said.
The military no longer recognizes any ATS for the MILF anywhere and officially recognized only seven MILF camps in Maguindanao, Lanao Del Norte and Lanao Del Sur as “MILF-influenced communities” when the government entered into a ceasefire agreement with the MILF.
While it insists that they will go after lawless elements in Basilan despite the MILF’s non-cooperation, the Philippine Army will first exhaust the peace mechanisms to minimize casualties among civilians, a spokesman said.
An “MILF-influenced community” in Barangay Ginanta, Al-Barka is unofficially recognized by authorities.
Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc said they have to exhaust the ceasefire mechanisms with the MILF to prevent affecting non-combatants.
“If the MILF refuses to cooperate, we will proceed. No one’s above the law,” he said.
“We will do our best to separate the civilians,” Cabunoc said.
He said they are still waiting for the MILF’s response through the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities.