Basilan clash won't affect talks with MILF - Razon

The government said Friday peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) won't be affected by claims of the rebel group that 10 of its members were killed in a day-long clash in Basilan between security forces and members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf on Wednesday. "Hindi makakaapekto sa ating usaping pangkapayapaan at sinusulong na peace process natin. At ganoon din sa hanay ng MILF panel, na patuloy pa ring positive ang kanilang outlook at sila ay in agreement na dapat manumbalik [na] sa formal talks [ang] GRP at MILF," said Avelino Razon, presidential adviser on the peace process, in an interview over radio dzXL. (It will not affect our peace talks and peace process. The MILF panel feels the same way, it maintains a positive outlook.) Razon also insisted what happened in Basilan was an "isolated" case, adding information he received so far showed the MILF members involved in the fight belonged to its "renegade" groups. But he said his office is now verifying other details of the MILF’s involvement in the incident, and that he may go to Mindanao if needed. "Kung kailangan, ako [ay] tatakbo roon. Sa ngayon patuloy tayong binibigyan ng AFP at nakukuha natin ang mga report alinsunod sa nangyayari sa Basilan (If I need to go to Mindanao, I’ll go. For now, I am getting updates on Basilan from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.)" Authorities on Thursday said the day-long clash in Ungkaya Pukan town on Wednesday led to the biggest single-day military losses in recent years. In August 2007, fighting on Basilan killed 25 soldiers and 27 militants, a month after 10 Marines were beheaded in an ambush. In Wednesday's clash, a total of 23 government troops and 31 bandits were killed. Rogue MILF Meanwhile, Razon said the government may ask the MILF to "cooperate" in disciplining its rogue units, saying both sides already showed goodwill by declaring a cessation of military operations. He also said both sides also agreed to protect non-combatants and evacuees in conflict areas. For its part, the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) said it has reinforced its presence in Basilan province. WesMinCom head Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino said the augmentation included at least one Marine battalion and another battalion from the Philippine National Police’s elite Special Action Force. "Sa ngayon ang Sitio Kurilem talagang nilagyan ng military presencepara di magamit ng Abu Sayyaf (na) sanctuary area (We intensified our military presence at the Abu Sayyaf camp site so the bandits cannot use it as a sanctuary area)," Dolorfino said in a separate interview on dzXL. Dolorfino said this will also prevent the Abu Sayyaf from hooking up with nearby MILF units when fleeing from government troops. He also maintained the clash at Kurilem was a "decisive achievement" as for the first time, the Abu Sayyaf could not recover its casualties. MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu said casualties on their side were the result of government troops entering what he claimed was an MILF territory in Baguindan village in Tipo-Tipo town. But Dolorfino maintained that government forces were in coordination with the Coordinating Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) as well as with the MILF through Tipo-Tipo Mayor Tong Istarul. MILF casualties "Throughout the armed engagement we were closely in touch with the GRP-CCCH. Then the following day we were informed that there were 9 MILF members killed in Basilan," Dolorfino said. "We were assured by the MILF leadership in Basilan that they will not participate in the armed engagement. It was unfortunate na masaring for reasons related sa Abu Sayyaf di na-control ng leadership ng MILF sa Basilan (The MILF in Basilan assured us they will not take part in the engagement. It was unfortunate they apparently could not control their own men)," he added. Kabalu admitted some MILF members are related to Abu Sayyaf members by consanguinity or affinity, but denied the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf are in cahoots. - GMANews.TV