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Arroyo: Offensives vs Abus to continue


President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday brushed aside calls to end the fighting in Sulu and Basilan, saying the assault against the Abu Sayyaf bandit group must continue to honor slain government troops and to ensure lasting peace. Speaking at the meeting of the National Security Council in Malacañang, President Arroyo acknowledged that there were calls to stop to fighting but was quick to add that the Republic has to defend itself. "Hindi tayo aatras sa pakikibaka upang mabigyan ng katarungan ang ating mga Marines at upang mabigyan ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran ang bayan [We will not relent in our struggle to give justice to our Marines and to extend peace and development to our country]," Mrs Arroyo said. Mrs Arroyo's statement came on the same day that the bodies of 13 Marines who were recently killed in Basilan were given full military honors at the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters in Taguig City. The remains of two other Marines were taken straight to their families in Mindanao. About 40 Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed, according to military reports. Last July, 14 other Marines were killed in Al-Barka town in an encounter with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for the beheading of 10 fatalities there. Over the weekend, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad bemoaned the waste of lives because of the fighting in his province. However, President Arroyo insisted that, "Nauunawaan natin ang mga ibig ihinto ang labanan, subalit dapat nating tandaan na hindi magkakaroon ng seguridad ang bansa kung ni hindi natin mabibigyan ng hustisya ang mga sundalong nagtatanggol ng ating republika [We understand those who want to end the fighting but we must always remember that there will be no security in the country if we do not give justice to the soldiers who defended the republic]." "Sa halip lalong lalakas ang loob ng mga terorista kung hindi sila pagbabayarin sa kanilang paglapastangan sa ating mga bayaning kawal [Instead, these terrorists will be emboldened if they will not be made to pay for their atrocities against our troops]," she said. The 'truth' The President similarly called upon the public not to be swayed by "false propaganda" from those who want to divide the country and the Armed Forces. "Huwag natin siyang (Pilipinas) isuko sa kalaban dahil lamang sa mapanira at makasariling pamumulitika (Let us not give up our country to the enemy just because of propaganda ang selfish politicking)," Mrs Arroyo said. She said the "principal weapon" against terrorism would be "economic development" in the strife-torn provinces. "Ongoing operations against rearguard actions of a despised and defeated group are meant to clear the path for these provinces' journey to peace and progress, which terror has delayed for so long," Mrs Arroyo added. Meanwhile, the President also conveyed that she has ordered the police and military to work closely with local governments in ensuring the safety of Filipinos against terrorist attacks. Peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will resume next month, she also said. Strike hard In a related development, two senators who served as soldiers insisted Tuesday that the offensives against the Abu Sayyaf must intensify. Senator Rodolfo Biazon, chair of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, said that, "We are already short in providing them (soldiers) the means to fight. Let us not take away the reasons why they are fighting for this country." Biazon is a former commandant of the Philippine Marines. For his part, Sen. Gregorio Honasan said that offensives in Sulu and Basilan must end only if the government can provide answers to end the insurgency. "I think even our soldiers would welcome that – if the police is clear to them," Honasan said. Home at last In Fort Bonifacio, enlisted Marine personnel carried 13 caskets along the main road of the Marine brigade headquarters towards the Philippine Navy gymnasium while a band played. The slain soldiers were taken from the Veronica Funeral Chapel in Pasay City to the headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City. Radio station dzBB reported that first to be brought inside the covered gymnasium were 1st Lieutenant Ludwig Salvador, 2nd Lieutenants Jeffrey Leoveras, Eugene Machise Pinera, and Roldan Somera. Following them were the caskets that carried Privates First Class Manuel Tayaban Jr, Michael Aoigan, Julius Jove, Ursolo Torres, Peary Simeros, Eril Labares, Rodan Baroy, Danilo Vergara, Virgilio Domingo III, Reynaldo Reposo. The report also said that fellow Marine soldiers went out of their quarters and stood on surrounding streets of the headquarters to give a final salute to their colleagues. The report added that also present in the ceremony were the families of the 13 Marine soldiers, who will eventually decide until when they want their loved ones to be laid in state at the Marine headquarters. - GMANews.TV

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