RP troops may lose morale, says officer<\/p>\n
MANILA (Agencies): A Philippine military official warned on
\nWednesday that an offensive against Abu Sayyaf rebels holding 18
\nAmerican and Filipino hostages may be adversely affected by
\nallegations that some armed forces officials were coddling the
\nextremists.<\/p>\n
Armed forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said troops
\ncould be demoralized by the accusations that a general and a
\ncolonel were paid by the Abu Sayyaf rebels to allow them to
\nescape a military cordon in June.<\/p>\n
\"The troops are already annoyed and this annoyance could fuel
\ndemoralization,\" he said in a news briefing. \"How can we continue
\nwith our maximum drive (against the Abu Sayyaf) if we are being
\nassailed.\"<\/p>\n
\"Here we are battling enemies in our front and here comes
\nanother hitting us from behind,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The allegations were made by Father Cirilo Nacorda, parish
\npriest of Lamitan town on Basilan island province, 900 kilometers
\nsouth of Manila.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Zamboanga, voters in the southern Philippines
\nhave rejected being included in an administrative zone run by
\nformer Moro rebels, election returns in suggested on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Officials said partial returns showed nine of 10 provinces and
\n12 of 14 cities -- all predominantly Christian -- voted against
\njoining the so-called Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao
\n(ARMM).<\/p>\n
But at least one key southern Philippine city has elected to
\njoin a Muslim self-rule area, raising hopes of resolving a 30-
\nyear Moro separatist rebellion, according to early poll results
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Government-accredited private poll watchdog the National
\nMovement for Free Elections (Namfrel) reported an 80 percent
\nturnout of voters in Muslim-dominated Marawi city.<\/p>\n
\"Moreover, it was also one of the areas that voted favorably
\nfor its inclusion in the expanded autonomous region,\" Namfrel
\nsaid in a report.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rp-troops-may-lose-morale-says-officer-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}