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 | Monday, May 08, 2000, updated at 08:44(GMT+8) | ||||||||||||
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Manila to Continue Operations Against RebelsPhilippine President Joseph Estrada vowed Sunday to continue military operations against the MoroIslamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao in the southern part of the country. "If they (MILF) want peace we will give them peace, but we will never allow ourselves to be threatened," Estrada said in Zamboanga City, Mindanao, where he was assessing the situation since hostilities broke out between government forces and MILF a week ago. "We will protect our national sovereignty, and we will do so even at the cost of our lives," he said. Estrada said the government is giving out everything to the people of Mindanao and the rebels must now stop its fight so "we can work together in peace." "We will not tolerate terrorism and any threat to the country, and we will apply the full force of the law." In Zamboanga, Estrada visited soldiers, who were wounded in a week-long fighting with MILF rebels, and comforted hostages who were rescued by government troops four days ago. But Estrada said nothing about the ceasefire proposed by the MILF. On Friday, MILF Vice Chairman for Military Affairs Al Haj Murad declared a 48 hour unilateral ceasefire which took effect at 06:00 Saturday (22:00 GMT Friday).
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