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AFP behind P-Noy’s peace initiative

Hurt but unfazed by the latest development, the military defended President Aquino’s decision to stick to the peace talks with the MILF, saying armed offensives could result in more bloodshed and displacement of civilians

AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said that while they grieve for their comrades who died during the recent clashes, they cannot allow their emotions to overwhelm them.

“We know that people are commiserating with members of the AFP. Their emotions are high. On our part, we feel that way, we are also humans but the answer is not through offensive, that we have to use the barrel of the gun to solve this,” Burgos told dzBB.

“We have to think of this carefully and we have persons in authority who know this better,” he added.

Burgos said launching attacks to avenge the death of soldiers could put the lives of innocent civilians in danger.

“If you want retaliation, we can retaliate but let’s see the casualties not only on the part of the armed forces and the other side but also to the Filipino people. The civilians in the area, the people who will be displaced, we have to study that, we have to consider those factors,” he said, stressing that the military continues to support peaceful ways to resolve the conflict with the MILF.

“War is not the answer. We know that the answer is through peace talks, we will continue to support all avenues leading to peaceful settlement of this conflict,” he said, emphasizing that an all-out war would only aggravate the situation.

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Lawless elements

In a separate interview with Philstar.com, Lt.Col. Ferdinand Razalan, commander of the Army's 35th Infantry Battalion, said that the attack in Lanao del Norte was not conducted by the MILF, but by lawless elements in the area.

"They are lawless element groups who want to exploit the situation. Gusto nilang palabasin na mga MILF para mag-conduct ng offensive ang military," Razalan said.

More than 10 heavily armed men swooped down on a three-vehicle convoy of the military in Payong village in Sultan Naga Dimaporo town Sunday.

But the military pointed out that the assailants are not MILF members, but a lawless element group that wanted to exploit the "crucial" peace negotiation between the Moro rebels and the government.

Razalan said soldiers from his unit are now conducting manhunt operations against the suspects identified as Camilo Radjamuda, Batik Radjamuda, Maro Radjamuda, Ito Radjamuda, Torna Radjamuda, Kuna Radjamuda, a certain Gana, a certain Saidamin, and a certain Lucky 9.

"Their target is to attack our post in the area, pero nagkataon na dumaan yung convoy ng 5th IB kaya yun ang tinambangan nila," he said, adding that the incident occured nearly half a kilometer from their post.

"Mas gusto ng mga lawless elements na may combat operation ang military against the MILF para malaya din silang mag-kidnap sa area," he pointed out.

He said that the suspects were relatives of the kidnap-for-ransom group in Zamboanga Peninsula region headed by Latip Radjamuda.

"If the government will conduct operations against the MILF that would be favorable to the lawless elements group to conduct atrocities in Mindanao," he reiterated. "It will be favorable to them."

asianobserve

Oct 25 2011, 09:07 AM

It's extremely demoralizing to know that our military are sitting ducks and inutile against MILF "rogue" elements. It only confirmed what I have believed for a long time that our military is not only corrupt, worse it is inept. It does not take F16s or Leo2s to battle insurgents it needs strategy.

We should be pursuing an intelligence based strategy, a smart COIN campaign. The AFP should set up a special division to take care of the MILF (ok, rogues) and ASG which shall answer directly to teh President. This special unit should focus on intelligence gathering, human, wire taps, internet surveillance, persistent aerial surveilance. Then an ultra-secretive special force unit like the US' Team 6 should be developed.  The only focus of this special force unit is to act on actionable intelligence gathered.  This special unit should have its own UAV (if possible), MH-6, and trasnport helicopters. As much as possible the special force unit should always be infiltrated by air.

The strategy is simple for this unit: pick up or take out the main leaders of the rogue MILF and members of ASG, the most high profile, for interrogation and if possible trial. Assasination should be avoided and resorted to last since the main focus of the operation is to gather intel and constantly put these groups off balance. (Just imagine the psychological impact on the remaining members of these groups when they know that their leaders are being milked for info by the military.)  Captured rogue MILFs and ASG should be milked for info before disposal. The aim is to always put these groups off balance and ultimately demoralize them. 

To train this special forces, the AFP should hire Israeli or Columbian advisers.

The PNP, regular special forces or regular personnel of the AFP should take out what remains of the off balanced rank-and-file members of these groups.

Publicly, the peace negotiations should not be taken off the table.  It should be pursued parallel to the military efforts. The same goes with the winning hearts and minds efforts.