Philippines rejects church plea to stop war against militants

PHILIPPINES: The Philippine government rejected Monday an appeal from influential Roman Catholic bishops to end an offensive against Al Qaeda-linked militants that has displaced thousands.

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said silencing the guns against Abu Sayyaf militants on the southern island of Basilan could only lead to further terrorist attacks.

“Combat operations in Basilan were surgically executed in order to prevent collateral damage,” Teodoro said in a statement.

On Sunday, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on the government to stop the fighting and allow families to resume their daily lives. It said among those most affected were children.

The CBCP said the military should also respect the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in the mainly Muslim island of Basilan.

“There was no reported civilian casualties during several clashes between the government troops and other lawless elements in the area,” Teodoro stressed.

He said halting military operations “will mean surrendering the state to terrorism and to crime.”

It would also belittle the sacrifices made by troops, who in July suffered their biggest defeat against in recent years when 14 Marines were ambushed, 10 of them later beheaded and their bodies mutilated.

Those behind the ambush were identified as rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) aided by Abu Sayyaf militants.

The MILF is the country’s main Muslim insurgent group that is negotiating peace with Manila.

The deaths sparked outrage in this mostly Catholic country, and pushed President Gloria Arroyo to order a major offensive focused on the Abu Sayyaf while agreeing to continue talking peace with the MILF.

Subsequent clashes have already left dozens of militants and soldiers dead and wounded. Nearly 24,000 people have also fled their homes.

Manila, Monday, AFP