Army chief tells troops: Don't be sitting ducks vs MILF

The chief of the Philippine Army said Wednesday that troops should not allow themselves to be "sitting ducks" in the face of the attacks mounted by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in southern Philippines.

In a chance interview at the Benito Ebuen Airbase, Lapulapu City, Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado said Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexader Yano has given instructions that government troops could use considerable force against attacking MILF fighters.

"These events, while irritating and taxing the patience of our ground commanders, should not (distract) us from the main effort of pushing the peace agenda to a successful conclusion," Ibrado said after the 61st founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force here.

"AFP troops, however, need not be sitting ducks in the face of these provocations, such is not the intent of the primacy of the peace process policy and therefore reserve the right to deal with such provocation with proportionate and justified force in defense of themselves and the communities but without losing sight of the strategic direction. Good commanders can properly calibrate their tactical responses," Ibrado quoted the guidance given by Yano.

Since late last week, the MILF has been active in mounting attacks against civilian and military targets in southern Philippines, particularly in the Central Mindanao region. The most recent was the attack on Army soldiers in Aleosan town in North Cotabato on Tuesday.

In addition, military authorities have linked a faction of the MILF in Basilan province as involved in the kidnapping of five employees of a local electric company in Tuburan town. The latest abduction was reportedly perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf bandit group.

As of this posting, four remain in captivity. (Source: GMANews.TV)