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PNoy refuses to declare war vs MILF despite Basilan clash


President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday rejected the idea of declaring an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) despite the death of 19 soldiers in a clash with members of the secessionist group in Basilan on Tuesday. “Are we advocating... all-out war...? Would that [improve] the situation? Matuto naman tayo. Giyera, walang nakikinabang," Aquino told reporters after attending the rites commemorating the 67th anniversary of the Leyte Gulf landing in Palo, Leyte. He said he does not want to judge the entire MILF organization just because of “one rotten egg." “Pag may one rotten egg dapat ba ‘yung buong basket of eggs tukuyin na natin na sila lahat masama? Maganda nga imbestigahan muna natin kung ano ang nangyari. Sino ang may pagkukulang? Sino ang mga nang-abuso, et cetera," he said. “Pag nakuha mo ‘yung lahat ng detalye, ‘yun ang magsasabi sa 'yo ng course of action. Pero kung tatalon-talon tayo kaagad na may conclusion, walang facts, eh napaka-iresponsable ‘nun. Pwede kung teenager ka siguro, pero matagal na tayong hindi teenager," Aquino added. The President said he received a preliminary report of the clash, which resulted in the biggest number of military casualties in recent years, on Wednesday afternoon. The firefight took place despite a ceasefire agreement and ongoing peace talks between the MILF and the government. Earlier in the day, presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said the Aquino administration will continue preparing for the next round of peace talks with the MILF despite the clash. Although there is no definite date yet for the next round of talks, Deles said the government expects the talks to resume by November. She said the Malaysian facilitator is shuttling between both sides to get them to agree to a definite date. On the other hand, the President expressed dissatisfaction with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) over the incident and vowed to implement drastic reforms in the military. “Ako hindi talaga natutuwa at gusto kong malaman ang puno’t dulo ng buong operasyon na ‘to… dapat talaga masiyasat kung ano ang dahilan na ganito ang naging resulta sa ating Sandatahang Lakas at iwasto natin," he said. He reiterated that he will meet with military and defense officials to discuss the matter. “Magkakaroon kami ng command conference bukas [Friday] sa [Camp] Aguinaldo nang hapon para nga mag-report sila [tungkol] sa buong operations: ano ba ang pakay ng operasyon? Ano ba ‘yung plano? Maraming detalye na gusto kong talakayin sa kanila," he said. “At hihingan ko ng detalye ng pagwawasto na kanilang dapat ginawa na noon pa lang panahon na may trahedya sa Sulu sa mga Marines… ang laki ng pagbabagong dapat mangyari," Aquino added. The President also extended his condolences to the families of the victims. “Nakikiramay tayo sa lahat ng mga pamilya na nawalan ng kanilang mga miyembro," he said. At least 19 soldiers, including four officers, were killed in the clash in Basilan last Tuesday. Meanwhile, GMA News' Raffy Tima reported on News To Go that all the 49 soldiers involved in the clash, including the fatalities, have been accounted for. The MILF claimed that government troops strayed into rebel-held territory but the military denied the allegation. — LBG/YA, GMA News

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