Esperon prefers peace talks but vows AFP ready to fight for RP sovereignty

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said yesterday the military is ready to defend the country’s sovereignty if peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) break down.

However, Esperon said the military prefers a peaceful solution to the war in Mindanao.

"Why go to war when we can talk peace and save people from being displaced, save casualties, save resources," he said.

Esperon said the supposed military posturing in Mindanao is a preventive measure to ensure that the ceasefire is being observed by both parties.

"Hindi naman kami naglalaban e," he said.

"May ceasefire kami. Ang naglalabanan doon yung civilians at saka sila (MILF). So bini-break namin. Pumagitna ang military at saka international monitoring team."

Troops are under orders to observe and preserve the ceasefire, Esperon added.

Meanwhile, Esperon said despite the heavy presence of troops in Sulu, Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani and Jemaah Islamiyah bombers Dulmatin and Umar Patek can still pierce the military dragnet.

"They can (escape), that’s possible," he said. "The area is large. They can pass by within five meters at night and they’re gone."

Esperon said the latest intelligence reports showed that the three terrorist leaders are still holding out in the jungles of Sulu.

"They are still there despite some reports," he said, referring to reports that they have slipped through the naval blockade of Sulu. "They have not reached Basilan."

Dulmatin carries a $10-million reward from the US government, while $1 million each has been offered for Patek and Janjalani.

Dulmatin and Patek escaped to the country via the southern backdoor right after the October 2002 Bali bombing that left 202 tourists, mostly from Australia, dead.