Aquino seeks laws to end rebellion
MANILA, PHILIPPINES— The Philippine president asked Congress on Monday to pass a troubled Muslim autonomy bill at the heart of efforts to end a bloody rebellion in the country’s south and legislation that aims to lessen the stranglehold on power of entrenched political families, which include his.
In his final state of the nation speech before he steps down in 11 months, Benigno Aquino summed his administration’s achievements in battling corruption and poverty — his campaign battle cry in 2010 — and thanked just about everyone who backed him, from his late parents, who are revered democracy champions, to his hairstylist.
Among other concerns he raised was the increasingly tense dispute with China over contested South China Sea territories. He called on Filipinos to unite as their country confronts China, which he did not identify by name.
“Our adversary is, by any measure, way ahead whether in terms of influ- ence, economy or military force,” Aquino said in the nationally televised address. “But on the basis of reason and love for country, we’re not lagging behind.”
He said the Philippines, which retired its last fighter jets a decade ago, would soon acquire a dozen FA-50 jets from South Korea, with the first two to be delivered in December, for territorial defence.
Two more C-130 cargo planes and more assault helicopters also are being acquired.
One of Aquino’s expected major legacies, a peace deal with the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, stalled early this year when some of the rebels from the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front got entangled in a clash that killed 44 anti-terrorism police commandos in southern Mamasapano town.
The commandos managed to kill a top Malaysian terror suspect long wanted by the United States whose real name is Zulkifli bin Hir, a successful assault Aquino cited in his address. The brutal police deaths, however, sparked public outrage.