MANILA: There will be no airstrikes by the military in Mindanao during the period of Ramadan unless extremely necessary, said Press Secretary Jesus Dureza in a radio interview yesterday.
But the Philippine Air Force (PAF) appeared contradicting the press secretary. Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog, the PAF commanding general, said in another interview that there has been no presidential directive calling off the airstrikes.
“No order from the president,” said Cadungog yesterday when asked to confirm reports that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had ordered a stop to the airstrikes after meeting with Mindanao peace groups.
Explaining the government’s policy, Press Secretary Dureza told the government-run Radyo ng Bayan station the “revised operational guidelines’’ in the pursuit operations against the MILF leaders had been in place at the start of Ramadan, which began on Sept. 1.
He stressed this policy had not changed since its announcement on the onset of Ramadan, even as peace advocates who met with Arroyo last week said that the chief executive had given new directives to the military not to conduct airstrikes. “And it’s stated there (revised operational guidelines) that our soldiers and police who are running after Umbra Kato and the other MILF lawless elements must exercise great sensitivity to the observance of the holy month of Ramadan,’’ he said, adding: “Among which was for example, walang artillery, walang air bombardment unless in extreme cases when they are necessary (no artillery, no air bombardment unless ... necessary).’’ And Dureza said airstrikes would only be ordered depending on certain situations. When pressed to elaborate, Dureza said in a phone interview that this would be the call of defense and military officials.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon Jr., said that airstrikes would be made when “extremely necessary’’ such as “if strong forces are guarding Ombra Kato.’’
“Naturally we have to use force and artillery,’’ Esperon said in separate a phone interview.
On the other hand, Cadungog of the PAF belied accounts that the president had ordered the military to halt the aerial assaults.
He said “limited” air operations would proceed against the “LMG or lawless MILF group,” the military’s tactical tag for MILF commanders Ameril Umbra Kato, Abdullah Macapaar, better known as Commander Bravo, and Aleem Sulaiman Pangalian.
“(We will) continue the operations against LMG — not the MILF as a whole. We are limited in our operations mission, meaning only the groups of Kato, Bravo and Pangalian,” said Cadungog.
Peace advocates reported hearing Arroyo order Armed Forces Chief of Staff Alexander Yano to halt airstrikes in Mindanao following the deaths of civilians in air operations a week ago.
The air force denied hitting unconfirmed targets during last Monday’s air operations and said airmen merely returned fire at hostile forces aboard boats in Datu Piang town, Maguindanao.
“There is no letup in our hot pursuit against them. This is of course a part of law enforcement. Of course, we are only mandated to conduct limited airstrikes against Bravo, Kato and Pangalian and their men,” said Cadungog.
This mission, he said, has been “very clear since day one of our operations.”
