AFP chief belittles 2000 all-out war vs MILF

MANILA, Philpines - Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano has belittled the gains of the all-out war waged in 2000 by then President Joseph Estrada against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). In a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Yano said what Estrada accomplished was the “symbolic” recovery of MILF camps and not its total defeat. “What we did in 2000 was just to symbolically occupy areas and raise the flag. We have not accounted for much of their capabilities and even firearms,” Yano said. He added that there was “no substantial reduction” of the MILF capability during the 2000 war. Comparing the 2000 offensive to the current one, Yano said their aim now is not just to occupy lands but to totally defeat the rebel groups in terms of casualties. “Our objective now is not just to occupy lands… but to degrade the capabilities of the forces involved,” he said. The military is currently pursuing MILF units that attacked civilian communities in North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte and Sarangani last August. Subjects of the ongoing offensive were MILF leaders Ameril Umbra Kato, Abdullah Macapaar alias Kumander Bravo, and Aleem Sulaiman Pangalian. The government has offered P10 million each for the capture of Kato and Bravo, and P5 million for Pangalian. Yano said they have been gaining “headways” in ongoing operations. “We have not only occupied some of their traditional areas which mean that we have constricted their area of capability, their space to maneuver. Second, we have inflicted considerable damage not only to personnel but to equipment of the different groups we are pursuing,” he said. - GMANews.TV