ZAMBOANGA, 13 March 2007 — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the military yesterday to observe restraint in artillery and aerial bombing assaults near Muslim guerrilla strongholds to avoid damaging already-stalled peace talks with the rebels.
Arroyo also ordered field commanders to be constantly aware of the effect of their offensives near Moro Islamic Liberation Front lairs in volatile southern Mindanao region in a rare public reproach of the military following deadly clashes between troops and the rebels.
Muslim guerrillas accused army troops of encroaching on their strongholds in the southern town of Midsayap in North Cotabato province, sparking clashes that killed 18 rebels and a soldier in fighting last week. Military warplanes dropped bombs near MILF positions during the clashes that displaced thousands of villagers, officials said. The MILF warned a 2003 truce was in danger of collapsing because of the military’s aggressive actions. Rebel and army commanders have accused each other of initiating the fighting last Monday and Tuesday in Midsayap, 890 kilometers (550 miles) south of Manila.
The MILF said sporadic clashes in the strife-torn island of Mindanao may soon subside after Manila vowed to remove a decorated commander of military forces they blamed for the fighting.
Mohagher Iqbal, the MILF chief peace negotiator, said he was told by the government peace panel that the Philippine Army would replace Maj. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito, commander of the 6th Infantry Division in central Mindanao.
“I was told that Gen. Pajarito would be replaced. Pajarito is the cause of all these troubles and fighting in Mindanao the past months,” he told Arab News.
He said Pajarito would be replaced by Maj. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, based in Pulacan in Zamboanga del Sur province.
— With input from agencies.
