Malacanang said that military operations against rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will continue during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Although Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita explained that the ceasefire in Mindanao remains in effect, the objective of the military pursuit operations, is to account for the renegade MILF members Commanders “Umbra Kato” and “Bravo” who had torched houses in a number of villages and killed several innocent civilians including children, women and the elderly.
Reiterating the government’s crackdown on the forces of Commanders Umbra Kato and Bravo, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that the rampage of lawless MILF elements calls for resolute military and police action.
The Chief Executive pointed out that the government has never deviated from the objectives of the peace process with the MILF, but that peace must be based on justice.
She said that the Bravo and Kato belonged to lawless groups that had been historically creating trouble before and during the government-MILF peace negotiations.
Under the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan starts on Sept. 1 and ends on Sept. 31 this year. (PIA/Bohol)
