VP Binay promises govt action vs MILF attacks

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday gave assurance that the government will take action against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for its successive attacks against soldiers and civilians in some parts of Mindanao last week. “Basta magkakasiguro kayo na magkakaroon ng action," he said in a statement. “There will be more orders and more action plans taken by the government in light of what has happened." He added: “The firefights have increased. These incidents need to be considered. What I can tell you is that there will a lot more action coming from the President." He did not elaborate. Despite the attacks, President Benigno Aquino III had rejected the idea of an all-out war against the MILF and insisted on continuing the peace talks.

Binay, however, said that pursuing peace talks does not mean that government will not pursue those responsible for the atrocities. “We have to go after the perpetrators of the Zamboanga Sibugay ambush. In Basilan, the MILF claimed they were attacked but it’s a different case in Zamboanga Sibugay. It appears that no one entered their area so it looks like an ambush. We must go after those behind it and put them behind bars," he said. Binay said he supports Aquino's decision to pursue the peace talks but that there is also a need for a thorough review of the terms of the ceasefire. “I believe we need to revisit the ceasefire agreement. There might be a lot of loopholes that’s why we cannot pinpoint who is at fault," he said. The MILF had earlier asserted that the military in Basilan violated the truce by launching an attack within their area of temporary stay (ATS) granted to them by the ceasefire, which the military denied. The ATS is a place designated by the government and the MILF Coordinating Committees on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) where forces of the secessionist group can stay to prevent encounters with troops pursuing members of the bandit Abu Sayyaf group. The military has begun its investigation into the incident. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News