AFP rejects military pullout in Mindanao
MANILA, Philippines - The military rejected Monday a proposal to pull out government forces in Mindanao so that there will be an end to decades-old hostilities in the region.
AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said the pullout of military forces in Mindanao, as proposed by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, could lead to an outbreak of violence in the area. “There is no plan to pull out. We respect his thinking,” said Mabanta.
The spokesman said the military presence allows them to check activities of security threats such as the terrorist Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah, the communist New People's Army and rogue elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
He said government forces also conduct civil military operations like construction of infrastructure projects.
“In places where government has minimal presence, we can fill on these vacancies…Remember that we have also our engineering works. It's not only armed conflicts, war, that we are looking into,” he said.
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INSANE SUGGESTION BY THIS PRIEST!!!
I AM FROM MINDANAO AND THIS IS AN INSANE SUGGESTION BY THIS PRIEST!!! HE SHOULD SHUT UP HIS MOUTH
Total Gun Ban? will not work!
A total gun ban will NOT work in Mindanao,it would only work with the Civilians who have legal firearms licenses and Permit to Carry. Rebels, Seperatists and Terrorists will never adhere to any of the Philippine Law, ngayon pa nga lang lumalaban na paano pa kaya pag nag total gun ban? yung mga business people/owners affected kaagad, no effective means for self defence and deterrance, our PNP and AFP are spread too thinly to protect our 90 Million and growing population. Would you rely on 177 or your Barangay Tanod if you're life/family is in imminent danger? for me,I don't think so.
Illogical suggestion!!!
What an illogical suggestion from persons without any understanding of what the problem in mindanao really is. Ok, you can pullout the military and surely banditry, extortion and lawlessness will flourish unabated...
As for me, as first step to have peace in mindanao is to strictly implement total gun ban, dismantle all the private armies and corrupt politicians, and pour all the needed development into it which mindanaoans has been craving for a long time now.