MANILA, Philippines The Philippine military denied on Thursday accusations by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that excessive force" was being applied in going after elements of the rebel group in Mindanao.
In a news conference at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Brig. Gen. Jorge Segovia said that employing excessive force" would be tantamount to a waste of resources which the military organization would not resort to.
We do not use excessive force that is a waste of resources. We are using appropriate response to the threat that is confronting our troops," said Segovia, the acting chief of the Armed Forces command center.
What we are doing is supporting our PNP in law enforcement there is no truth to the statement that we are using excessive response that is a waste of resources on the part of the Armed Forces and (we) will not do that," he added.
Earlier in the day, the MILF said the Armed Forces indiscriminate cleansing operations" included engaging Task Force Ittihad (Unity) of the MILF Central Committee during the militarys attack on the 105th Base Command of Commander Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato in several villages in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.
Task Force Ittihad was designated by the Central Committee to 10 Maguindanao towns to promote unity" among MILF members, local government units, government armed forces, and civilians in the areas, said the MILF.
The rebel group claimed the task force was included the militarys 5:50 a.m. attacks on Wednesday at Kuloy, Tapikan 1, and Tapikan 2 villages.
The attack on Ittihad is tantamount to a direct attack on the MILF highest leadership, GRP MILF peace process and (the) ceasefire (agreement)," the MILF said.
The group said the assault dispersed civilians, destroyed properties and livelihood, and pulverized downtrodden Muslim communities," adding that some who fled their homes are now staying in makeshifts under trees and along roads.
They added that neighboring towns Datu Piang, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay Ampatuan, and Mamasapano were also affected. - GMANews.TV