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.