RP troops may lose morale, says officer

RP troops may lose morale, says officer

MANILA (Agencies): A Philippine military official warned on Wednesday that an offensive against Abu Sayyaf rebels holding 18 American and Filipino hostages may be adversely affected by allegations that some armed forces officials were coddling the extremists.

Armed forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said troops could be demoralized by the accusations that a general and a colonel were paid by the Abu Sayyaf rebels to allow them to escape a military cordon in June.

"The troops are already annoyed and this annoyance could fuel demoralization," he said in a news briefing. "How can we continue with our maximum drive (against the Abu Sayyaf) if we are being assailed."

"Here we are battling enemies in our front and here comes another hitting us from behind," he added.

The allegations were made by Father Cirilo Nacorda, parish priest of Lamitan town on Basilan island province, 900 kilometers south of Manila.

Meanwhile in Zamboanga, voters in the southern Philippines have rejected being included in an administrative zone run by former Moro rebels, election returns in suggested on Wednesday.

Officials said partial returns showed nine of 10 provinces and 12 of 14 cities -- all predominantly Christian -- voted against joining the so-called Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

But at least one key southern Philippine city has elected to join a Muslim self-rule area, raising hopes of resolving a 30- year Moro separatist rebellion, according to early poll results Wednesday.

Government-accredited private poll watchdog the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) reported an 80 percent turnout of voters in Muslim-dominated Marawi city.

"Moreover, it was also one of the areas that voted favorably for its inclusion in the expanded autonomous region," Namfrel said in a report.