Arroyo declares victory in campaign against rebels<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Manila<\/p>\n
President Gloria Arroyo on Monday declared victory in a 10-day-
\nold military campaign against \"terrorist cells\" allegedly
\nsheltered by the largest Moro separatist group in the southern
\nPhilippines.<\/p>\n
Arroyo had ordered selective \"punitive\" strikes against Moro
\nIslamic Liberation Front (MILF) units she blamed for deadly
\nbombings and raids on the Mindanao island shortly before her
\nstate visit to the United States on May 17.<\/p>\n
\"The punitive military actions against the terrorist attackers
\nof Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte and Maigo, Lanao del Norte have
\nbeen dislodged from their bases and dispersed into ragtag groups
\nbeing run to the ground by the government troops,\" she said in a
\nspeech.<\/p>\n
\"The investigation into the Davao and Koronadal bombings is
\nbearing fruit with the arrest of the perpetrators of these and
\neven previous terrorist attacks,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Arroyo has warned the 12,500-member MILF, waging a campaign to
\nset up an Islamic state in the southern third of the mainly Roman
\nCatholic Philippines, of giving succor to \"terrorist cells\".<\/p>\n
She has warned the MILF to surrender the suspected bombers and
\nraiders responsible for nearly 100 deaths and to renounce alleged
\nties to foreign terror groups by June 1 or be branded as a
\n\"terrorist organization.\"<\/p>\n
The MILF has denied any links to the al-Qaeda terror network
\nof Osama bin laden or its Southeast Asian wing, the Jamaah
\nIslamiyah.<\/p>\n
The MILF has also dismissed claims it was linked to the local
\nAbu Sayyaf kidnap for ransom group, which both Washington and
\nManila say is affiliated to the al-Qaeda.<\/p>\n
Arroyo said on Monday that her Washington trip secured a U.S.
\ngovernment aid worth US$96 million to help children in conflict
\nareas of the southern Philippines, apart from Manila in the
\ncategory of a major non-NATO ally.<\/p>\n
\"The success of my state visit is about recognizing that moral
\nchoices in moments of crisis must be backed up in day to day life
\nby unified action, sustained vigor, and effective prosecution,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/arroyo-declares-victory-in-campaign-against-rebels-1447893297",
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