Stressing that terrorism has no known religion, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said pursuit operations against members of the "Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters" (BIFF) will continue despite the start of Ramadan within two days time.
But
he clarified that the pursuit operations against the BIFF will be conducted
with great sensitivity in order not to disturb Muslim communities from
observing the month-long religious holiday.
Zagala
also said that measures are already in place to ensure that this Muslim holiday
will be commemorated peacefully.
"Our
offensives are only directed against an enemy (BIFF) that has no known
religion," he stressed.
Of
those killed, five were from the government side, including one junior Army
officer and four enlisted personnel.
While
18 were reported killed from the BIFF side.
Two
soldiers were also wounded-in-action, said Col. Dickson Hermoso, 6th Infantry
Division spokesperson, said.
Recent
atrocities by the BIFF, which is hellbent to derail the peace process between
the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF), had prompted the military, together with the Philippine National Police
(PNP) and the GPH-MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) to launch
law-enforcement operations.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=542007
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.