The military will be shifting to its "holding phase" soon in its ongoing operation against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and known bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman, Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Joselito Kakilala said Monday.
In a phone interview with GMA News TV's News To Go, Kakilala said, "Law enforcement operation will continue in going after the lawless armed groups, such as the BIFF and the terrorist Basit Usman... and other private armed groups. However, we will be shifting to the holding phase where we will conduct peace and development activities."
Kakilala said this phase will introduce infrastructure projects in the area, the first of which is the P17-million Mamasapano Bridge.
He added that these are approved by the national government, "with local funding of our LGUs (local government units)."
"We'll also build farm-to-market roads for peace, school buildings for peace, and others. These are (part of) the shifting mode of our current operations," Kakilala said.
Further, Kakilala said: "We look forward that more funds will be available for more projects to transform this area to a peaceful community, so the people will see the concern of the national government and the local government."
The concrete Mamasapano Bridge, which Kakilala said will be called "bridge for peace," will replace the wooden footbridge that saw the January 25 clash between PNP Special Action Force officers and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Over 60 people died in the said encounter, including 44 elite police officers and 17 MILF members.
Last week, AFP public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said the all-out offensive in Maguindanao is nearing its end, following the arrest of former BIFF vice president and Justice for Islamic Movement founder Mohamad Ali Tambako.
Cabunoc, however, did not specify when it will end, noting instead that "holding operations" will take place after clearing operations.
"'Yan 'yung pag-return ng mga residente sa kani-kanilang tirahan," he explained. "Ang local government ang magde-decide kung safe na silang bumalik."
As of March 17, a total of 117 rebels have been killed in the ongoing operations, with 47 of them identified.
Meanwhile, some 100,000 residents in the province of Maguindanao have been affected by the operations, a TV report said Thursday.
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