NEW ARMY CHIEF President Aquino on Wednesday presides over the change of command of the Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, from Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz (seated at right) to Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista (seated at left). Seated at the back are Navy chief Vice Adm. Alex Pama and PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday told soldiers that their success won’t be measured by the wars they win or the number of enemies they kill.
The Chief Executive made the remarks during the turnover of the Army command from General Arturo Ortiz to new Army chief General Emmanuel Bautista at Fort Bonifacio.
Underlining his administration’s policy to pursue a peace agreement rather than an all-out war against Moro rebels, the Commander-in-Chief told members of the Philippine Army that their victory would be based on maintaining the peace and on lives spared from further conflict.
“I’d no longer beat around the bush. I know that the fortitude of our soldiers is once again being tested by the murders of our soldiers in Mindanao,” President Aquino said.
“What happened hurts and anger is pushing us to take revenge,” he added.
President Aquino, nonetheless, said he remained steadfast in his policy against war, saying his duty is not to engage in conflict but to ensure the safety of the people.
“The success of soldiers is measured not by the wars they’ve won but in maintaining the peace in our country and our soldiers are admired not in the number of enemies that they kill in times of discord but in the number of lives they save from conflict,” President Aquino said.
His speech came weeks after 19 members of the Army’s Special Forces died in a clash with Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in Al Barka, Basilan despite an existing ceasefire agreement.
President Aquino has dismissed calls to suspend the ceasefire and go on an all-out offensive against the MILF.
Instead, Mr. Aquino vowed to go after the lawless elements behind the attack in a campaign he called all-out justice.
“We can’t afford to be reckless in making decisions. The solution suggested by violent persons won’t work especially now that we are aware of the sufferings that will be caused by going into a situation that has perpetuated decades of war and conflict,” he said.
As this developed, the government peace panel and the MILF are trying to work out a “difference of opinion” on Dan Laksaw Asnawi, an MILF deputy commander wanted by law enforcers.
Marvic Leonen, chairman of the government panel, said negotiations on how to deal with Asnawi had started.
He noted that there is a standing warrant for Asnawi’s arrest.
“For so long as there is coordination with the MILF, there is no stopping law enforcement,” Leonen said.
On October 18, 19 Army soldiers deployed to serve an arrest warrant on Asnawi were killed in a clash with MILF rebels in Al-Barka town in Basilan.
Asnawi was among those involved in the beheading of 14 Marines during a 2007 clash, also in Al-Barka town. He was arrested but escaped from jail in December 2009.
Police have filed charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder against 13 MILF commanders, including Asnawi, and 300 others for the death of the 19 soldiers.
Senior Superintendent Generoso Bonifacio, head of the 9th Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said the charges were filed on November 4 before the Basilan Provincial prosecutor’s Office in Isabela City. With a report from John Roson, Bandera