MANILA, Philippines – Senator Franklin Drilon on Sunday said President Benigno Aquino III gets his support in rejecting calls to launch an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), following separate attacks in Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay last week, which left 23 soldiers and 4 policemen dead.

"I fully support the President in his decision to thumb down proposals to scrap the peace process and wage an all-out war against the MILF due to what happened recently which killed several soldiers," said Drilon in a press statement. "The government must exhaust all means to pursue peace process with the MILF.”

Drilon also urged the public to support the President’s decision not to wage an all-out war despite calls from various sectors which include Senator Panfilo Lacson and former President Joseph Estrada.

"Let us support the President in this undertaking. We believe that in time, we will succeed in our efforts to attain peace," said Drilon.

Aquino has warned that proposals to launch an all-out war will only result in a terrible toll on human lives, particularly among the people of Mindanao.

The failed Special Forces mission in Al-Barka town, Basilan, which resulted to the deaths of 19 soldiers, was aimed at capturing MILF commander Dan Laksaw Asnawi.

Asnawi, who bolted from the Basilan provincial jail in 2009, was previously charged with multiple murder related to the beheadings of 14 Marines in 2007.

The operation also sought to capture Asnawi's associates, alleged Abu Sayyaf members Nursahan Jamiri and Long Malat, according to Col. Carlito Galvez, Army chief operations divisions at the office of the deputy chief of staff.

Two days later, a separate incident involving the MILF and government forces in Zamboanga Sibugay resulted to the deaths of 4 soldiers and 4 police officers.