2008-08-24 18:21:10 - Government rejects Murad's request for suspension of AFP/PNP offensive telling Muslim rebels to surrender commanders

MANILA

Malacanang shot down Sunday the request of the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the government to suspend its offensive in Mindanao.

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Press Secretary Jesus G. Dureza in a text message to Malacanang reporters, said 'There is no all-out war in Mindanao. This is waging all-out peace in Mindanao,' as he called on MILF chairman Al-Haj Murad to prove his sincerity by surrendering the three MILF base commanders who have been sowing terror in Mindanao over the past three weeks.

'The inaction of the MILF leadership will be construed as its tacit approval of the criminal acts of its three commanders and will be a clear proof of the MILF leadership's insincerity to pursue the conclusion of the peace

talks,' stressed Dureza.

Wanted by government are MILF commanders Umbra Kato, Bravo and Pangalian who all are 'historically recalcitrant commanders and (who) may continue their violent acts even if agreements are signed with the MILF leadership,' warned Dureza, the government's immediate past Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (PAPP).

Dureza twitted the MILF chairman, thus: 'If Chairman Murad is not willing or capable of bringing in his three MILF commanders to answer for their terroristic acts, then he and his men must stand down as government forces enforce the law-'

'Short of that, there will be no let up in government offensive,' stressed Dureza who added that Murad could do either of two things: 'If Chairman Murad wishes to bring back on track the derailed peace talks, he must show that he does not countenance those criminal acts by either surrendering them (the three MILF commanders) to the law; or, if unable to enforce control over his own commanders, should order his men to stand aside to enable our Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) forces to enforce the law.'

Dureza, a former congressman of Davao City, said 'the military and the police cannot suspend their law enforcement operations unless the three base commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are neutralized and punished in accordance with our laws for their acts of terrorism against innocent and helpless civilians.'

'We want to continue peace negotiations but not at the expense of our laws. We have gone a long way for peace but not at the expense of our innocent civilians who seek vindication for the violence inflicted on them by those lawless MILF groups. Our peace-loving citizens expect no less,' concluded Dureza.