AFP spokesman suggests suspension of ceasefire with MILF

MANILA, Philippines—After the Philippine Army lost 19 lives in the recent bloody encounter with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayaff Group, Army spokesman Colonel Antonio Parlade Jr. said that if his suggestion would be asked, he would propose the temporary suspension of ceasefire to chase after the perpetrators of this killings, he said over a radio interview Wednesday.

“If they’re going to ask me on this matter, it’s very clear that we must pursue the MILF (renegades who committed the crime). Temporarily, we must suspend the Cessation of Hostilities [Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities] specifically in that area in Basilan because I’m sure this won’t be the last time or the last incident that will take place,” Parlade said.

He added that this was likely the 8^th or 9^th time that the MILF intervenes with the military operations with lawless Abu Sayaff members.

He also called on to the Aquino government to consider his suggestion and impose Philippine laws in Basilan.

Parlade said even without the verbal expressions of grudge coming from our soldiers, the Philippine Army could see how hurtful these events were for our warriors.

“We [army] don’t understand. In the first place, if the MILF committee is sincere in pursuing peace talks in Mindanao, this should not have happened. They [MILF] should even be the one to initiate the turnover of the criminals to the government. But this did not happen. They [MILF] even reinforced with Abu Sayaff members,” Parlade said in Filipino.

He added the military was positive that the six soldiers who were disarmed, killed and dumped in Bato-Bato, Al Barka in Basilan, were captured by the MILF alive.

“Our wounded soldiers who survived the attack saw what happened and they told us how their fellow soldiers ran out of bullets and captured [by the MILF],” he said in Filipino.

The military have incurred 19 casualties and 14 wounded in action.

AFP spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said the bodies of the 11 fatalities would be transported from Zamboanga to Fort Bonifacio on Friday and would be accorded appropriate military honors.