ZAMBOANGA CITY, 5 March 2005 — Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday rejected proposals for a cease-fire in the southern island of Jolo and ordered the military to continue hunting down the gumen blamed for the deaths of more than two dozen soldiers in fierce fighting last week.
A Malaca?ang Palace press statement said the president issued the order upon the recommendation of Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Efren Abu.
“The will be no letup in our operations to neutralize the remaining leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf and MNLF renegades,” said Brig. Gen. Agustin Dema-ala, the military commander in Jolo.
Jolo politicians have proposed for a cease-fire after weeks of fighting believed to have killed more than 100 rebels, most of them loyal to jailed Muslim leader Nur Misuari.
Misuari’s followers, led by Habier Malik, said they attacked military posts in Jolo on Feb. 7 to avenge the death of a Muslim couple and their 14-year old son.
The military had claimed the trio were killed during a clash between government troops and members of extremist Abu Sayyaf group.
Officials also said the rebels had planned the attacks to force the government to free Misuari, who is being held in a prison near Manila on rebellion charges.
Deputy Director General Vidal Querol of the national police said criminal charges are being prepared against Malik and his men.
Aside from the murder charges, the police plan to file arson charges against Malik’s group for burning several houses during the attacks in Jolo.
Arroyo commended the military for taking control of 45 Jolo island “lairs and sanctuaries” of Malik’s gunmen and the Abu Sayyaf.
“The terrorists shall not be given any chance to regroup and to launch further terrorist attacks against our communities,” Arroyo said.
At the same time, she said she has instructed her adviser on the peace process, Teresita Deles, to coordinate with the Department of Social Welafre and Development (DSWD) the safe return of refugees, who fled their homes because of weeks of fierce fighting.
Deles is scheduled to fly to Jolo today to meet with local government leaders and inspect different refugee centers there.
More than 43,000 people have fled their homes in Jolo, most seeking refuge with relatives and friends, said Maydelyn Bahjin, head of the provincial social welfare office.
Soldiers have captured another pro-Misuari rebel camp after an encounter Wednesday with about 40 gunmen who were trying to delay the troops’ advance, said General Dema-ala.
He said two soldiers were slightly wounded and the rebels suffered “many casualties” after the military shelled the area on Wednesday and Thursday.
