MANILA, Philippines - Next stop: Basilan.
Now in full control of the stronghold of militants in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay, the military leadership is preparing an intricate strike in the island province of Basilan against the “rogue rebels” behind the slaying of 19 Special Forces troops in Al Barka town on Tuesday last week.
The planned strike is in line with the “all-out justice” promised by President Aquino to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to punish all the perpetrators of the attack.
“Just wait for the development on the ground,” said one of the military sources, referring to the ongoing efforts to get the perpetrators of the Al Barka carnage.
The source added that Waning Abdusalam and his followers were the main targets of the military and police operations.
Abdusalam escaped the dragnet that the military laid out after Army Scout Rangers, Special Forces troops and the Light Reaction Company overran and captured his camp at Sitio Taliab, in Payao town the other day.
“He could have escaped to Basilan at the height of heavy fighting in Payao,” another source said, admitting that there are other possible areas where Abdusalam could have sought sanctuary like Lanao, Zamboanga City, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and even Sabah.
On Thursday, the military had declared victory in its “all-out justice” campaign against Abdusalam in Zamboanga Sibugay.
The military and police victory came after four days of heavy fighting that included aerial bombings and ground artillery fire on the highly-fortified camp, leaving two soldiers killed and 27 lawless members dead.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz tagged Abdusalam, despite being disowned by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership, as one of its Special Operations commanders.
AFP Peace Process chief Col. Dickson Hermoso said that any MILF rebel in Basilan found coddling the lawless groups would be legitimate targets of the military and police strike operations.
“The President is very explicit in his statement that there will be a law enforcement operation to be led by the PNP supported by the AFP against the lawless elements that perpetrated the crime in Basilan,” Hermoso said, adding that the operations would be intelligence-driven and deliberate to avoid unnecessary damage or casualties.
Subjects of the planned strike operations are Abu Sayyaf commander Furuji Indama, kidnap for ransom group leader Long Malat and fugitive MILF commander Lakswa-Dan Asnawi.
Three high-value targets and their heavily armed followers ambushed Special Forces troops out to arrest them Tuesday last week in Al Barka town, killing 19 of the troops, including four young officers.
The AFP has already asked the MILF leadership to surrender Asnawi to the authorities, a request which the MILF has yet to comply with.
AFP Inspector General Maj. Gen. Ireneo Espino will submit today his official findings and recommendations on the Basilan incident.
Espino was tasked by AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban to conduct an investigation into the Al Barka carnage to determine if lapses were committed by some ground commanders in launching an operation to arrest Asnawi, an escapee from the Basilan provincial jail, Indama and Malat.
Just a matter of time
The AFP said it is now easier to pursue rogue Abdusalam after his fortified camp fell to the hands of the government forces.
Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said while they cannot ascertain Abdusalam’s exact location, it will be easy for the police to locate him now that he is on the run.
Ferrer, who visited the captured camp, said invading government troops reached the target at nightfall but failed to conduct clearing operation since the place was rigged with traps and land mines.
He said Abdusalam’s group suffered more than 10 casualties and undetermined number of wounded.
He also announced the reorganization of the military forces in the province following the provincial peace and order council meeting presided over by Gov. Jum Akbar and attended by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles at the provincial capitol yesterday.
The Cabinet officials and Ferrer flew to Basilan to personally assess the situation. They later flew to Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay and held similar Security Council meeting there.
Ferrer said he has activated Task Force Basilan composed of the Special Operations Task Force-Basilan and the additional forces of the 104th Army Brigade.
He said the new military unit will be headed by 104th Brigade chief Col. Ricardo Visaya, whose forces came from Lanao del Norte.
The troops under the joint Special Operations Task Force-Basilan is being directly supervised by the Special Operations Command based in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija and General Headquarters even if the area is under the Westmincom.
The military occupation, operation and supervision in Basilan was previously handled by the Westmincom but was changed when Sec. Voltaire Gazmin sat as defense chief.
A closer look at ceasefire mechanisms
Meanwhile, the government and the MILF are now studying existing ceasefire mechanisms in the wake of the bloody Basilan clash and both sides are expected to submit their respective proposals once the talks resume.
Hermoso said the ceasefire regulations should reflect new realities on the ground.
“There are situations that are no longer applicable. The situation in the past five to ten years is different from now,” he said.
He said among these changes is the presence of lawless elements, criminal groups and extortionists who take advantage of the peace process.
“Terrorists, criminals and kidnap-for-ransom groups and extortionists capitalize on cessation of hostilities. There is a need to review or amend it,” he said.
Hermoso, however, declined to provide specific proposals, saying they would leave such task to the peace panel.
He said the possible discussion points could include provisions on provocative and hostile acts, harboring of criminals and entering of the so-called area of temporary stay.
Hermoso said the review of the ceasefire mechanisms started two days ago but could not say when it would be completed.
Under existing ceasefire rules, the military cannot enter the area of temporary stay of rebel groups without proper coordination.
“Before, we only have to address one virus and that is the presence of the JI (Jemaah Islamiyah). Nowadays, we have kidnap for ransom, lawless elements and extortionists,” he said. “It was stated explicitly in the agreement with the MILF that they should not provide sanctuary to these groups.”
Hermoso said the amendments should lead to a framework that is more responsive to the situation in the ground. – Roel Pareño, Alexis Romero