Palace rejects call to end war with MILF

Malacanang rejected yesterday calls from several Mindanao congressmen for President Estrada to halt the military offensive against the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

However, Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said the administration is committed to the peaceful settlement of the war in Mindanao.

"We're going to clear Central Mindanao of many armed groups," he said. "We have only one armed force in Central Mindanao and that would be the Armed Forces of the Philippines. We're not talking here about the MILF only but it also includes the so-called vigilantes. Our objectives are very clear."

Zamora said the President would not agree to a ceasefire because the MILF had taken advantage of the truce in the past to strengthen its forces and fortify its camps.

He cited as examples the 10-kilometer, six-foot tall bunkers which the MILF had built on top of a government-funded irrigation system along the Narciso Ramos Highway in Maguindanao.

Zamora said the government cannot tolerate the MILF's extortion activities on the highway, which had gone unchecked for the past five years.

On the other hand, Zamora assured the congressmen that the administration had not abandoned the policy of peace and development in Mindanao.

"That is really what the government should really do," he said. "On the one hand, we should really continue with the peace talks. And we have already set May 30 as the date and the MILF has already agreed on that date. It will be in Cotabato on May 30."

Earlier, Mr. Estrada said he does not want a new ceasefire with the MILF although the government intends to pursue the path of peace in Mindanao.

"If only the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is just as sincere and committed as the government in pursuing a peaceful settlement of the insurgency," he added. "But even if the government wants peace, it cannot stop the military from responding to ceasefire violations by the MILF," the President said.

In Marugong in Lanao del Norte, four Muslim fighters were killed and two militiamen wounded after 70 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas attacked a Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment and engaged the militiamen in a 20-minute firefight yesterday.

The rebels were repulsed by troops from the Army's 28th Infantry Battalion and fled towards the MILF's Camp Jabal Nur in the hinterlands of Marugong, Lt. Col. Gregorio Catapang, commander of the 28th Infantry Battalion, said in his report to Brig. Gen. Roy Cimatu, commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Division.

Maj. Johnny Macanas, Army spokesman, said the guerrillas, who are short in food, tried to extort food from a plantation in Malabang, Lanao del Sur, but security guards repelled them.

Macanas said fierce fighting is expected to occur in Marugong town today when pursuing government troops catch up with the fleeing guerrillas.

"We are hopeful we can liberate Marugong town in three to four days of operation as we are determined to re-establish law and order as well as re-install the duly-elected officials in the area," he said.

Government troops attacked Marugong after Mayor Abdul Madid Maruhom was ousted by Vice Mayor Malapandi Cosaim, who is an MILF commander.

Macanas advised residents to evacuate to the nearby towns of Malabang and Balabagan so they would not be caught in the crossfire.

Army troops continued to clear Marugong of MILF guerrillas, who are believed to have fled to the forest after abandoning Camp Jabal Nur.

Army artillery, along with fighter planes and helicopter gunships continued to pound rebel positions to try to stop the fleeing guerrillas from escaping.

In Maitum, Sarangani, MILF guerrillas killed a police officer and wounded five others, including two top police officials in an ambush last Wednesday.

Central Mindanao police director Chief Superintendent Manuel Raval said 20 armed men waylaid a convoy of two vehicles carrying the police officers at around 2:30 p.m. and opened fire at them from different directions.

He identified the fatality as Police Officer 1 Rodolfo dela Cruz, who was assigned with the 1109th Police Provincial Mobile Group.

The wounded policemen were identified as Chief Inspector Pablito Nasataya, Palembeng Sultan Kudarat police director, Chief Inspector Carlos Hallado, Police Provincial Mobile Group director, and Police Officer 1 Noel Petiquin and Senior Police Officer 1 Modesto Catalan. They are now in stable condition at a local hospital.

In an interview with reporters, Catalan said they left Palembeng town around noon to report to Raval in this city. As they reached the boundary of Palembeng and Maitum, they had a flat tire, forcing them to stop on the highway.

Minutes later, the town's vice mayor passed by and offered them a ride in his convoy. When they reached Sitio Takal, which was more than 10 kilometers from Maitum proper, they were stopped by a barrage of gunfire and rockets. A rocket hit a police car, which fell into a ravine.

Catalan, on the other hand, said heavy gunfire kept them at bay for five minutes, while a sniper kept on shooting at them for 20 minutes.

The attackers were forced to withdraw after troops from the Army's 68th Infantry Battalion arrived, he added.

Capt. Sam Deles, spokesman of the Army's 601st Infantry Brigade, said the raiders could be MILF guerrillas under Commander Tigre Jakiri.

"There is actually an MILF camp about two kilometers away from the scene of the ambush and this might be part of their offensive against government forces," he said.

Police and Army troops have launched a manhunt for the attackers.

In Silay, Misamis Oriental, a soldier was killed and another wounded after 50 communist guerrillas ambushed a convoy of Army troops Wednesday morning.

Police identified the dead as Sgt. Alex Espinosa. The wounded, Sgt. Ernesto Zulueta, is being treated at the Army Station Hospital at Camp Edilberto Evangelista.