Arroyo declares victory in campaign against rebels
Arroyo declares victory in campaign against rebels
Agence France-Presse, Manila
President Gloria Arroyo on Monday declared victory in a 10-day-
old military campaign against "terrorist cells" allegedly
sheltered by the largest Moro separatist group in the southern
Philippines.
Arroyo had ordered selective "punitive" strikes against Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) units she blamed for deadly
bombings and raids on the Mindanao island shortly before her
state visit to the United States on May 17.
"The punitive military actions against the terrorist attackers
of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte and Maigo, Lanao del Norte have
been dislodged from their bases and dispersed into ragtag groups
being run to the ground by the government troops," she said in a
speech.
"The investigation into the Davao and Koronadal bombings is
bearing fruit with the arrest of the perpetrators of these and
even previous terrorist attacks," she added.
Arroyo has warned the 12,500-member MILF, waging a campaign to
set up an Islamic state in the southern third of the mainly Roman
Catholic Philippines, of giving succor to "terrorist cells".
She has warned the MILF to surrender the suspected bombers and
raiders responsible for nearly 100 deaths and to renounce alleged
ties to foreign terror groups by June 1 or be branded as a
"terrorist organization."
The MILF has denied any links to the al-Qaeda terror network
of Osama bin laden or its Southeast Asian wing, the Jamaah
Islamiyah.
The MILF has also dismissed claims it was linked to the local
Abu Sayyaf kidnap for ransom group, which both Washington and
Manila say is affiliated to the al-Qaeda.
Arroyo said on Monday that her Washington trip secured a U.S.
government aid worth US$96 million to help children in conflict
areas of the southern Philippines, apart from Manila in the
category of a major non-NATO ally.
"The success of my state visit is about recognizing that moral
choices in moments of crisis must be backed up in day to day life
by unified action, sustained vigor, and effective prosecution,"
she said.