SEN. Francis Escudero yesterday warned of the social costs of AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon’s campaign to wipe out 17 of 87 communist fronts in the first quarter.

"When war drums roll, those who’ll take care of the civilians be better ready," Escudero said.

Escudero said Malacañang should place "public health and social services on red alert" following Esperon’s statement.

"Any mobilization for war should include the mobilization of personnel who will take care of the medical, food and shelter needs of non-combatants who will certainly be displaced by fighting," he said. "There will be a big humanitarian crisis if these are not taken care of."

Esperon made the statement after Malacañang announced Saturday that his tour of duty is being extended by three months. Esperon is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 9. After March, he said, the military will focus on dismantling the remaining guerrilla fronts. The President wants the military to end the insurgency problem before her term ends in 2010.

Militant groups are also wary of the counter-insurgency program which they said are targeting unarmed activists.

Rep. Satur Ocampo of the Leftist party-list group Bayan Muna said the extension could mean more extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances.

"With Gen. Esperon’s extension and bragging to ‘fight the NPA all the way,’ there is the danger of increased extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. More blood will be in Esperon’s hands, and consequently in Ms Arroyo’s hands," he said.

Ocampo led the filing of Resolution 418 which expresses the strong opposition of the progressive bloc against Esperon’s term extension.

The measure was also sponsored by Reps. Teddy Casiño of Bayan Muna, Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis, Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan of Gabriela.

Escudero said his call on the government "to brace for the wave of evacuees should not be seen as an endorsement of Esperon’s plan but for them to plan ahead when it comes to the effect on civilians of this campaign."

He also said insurgency could not be defeated by arms alone.

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said Esperon should make sure that the blood only of combatants will flow should the anti-insurgency campaign intensify.

"If he says blood must flow to finish this job, let blood flow. But General Esperon must assure our people that the right color of blood must flow. Not the color yellow of the political or sectoral opposition, nor the color blue of the non-combatant and innocent civilians. If blood must flow let it be the red of the combatants," Biazon said.

Biazon, Senate national defense panel chair and former AFP chief, said Esperon should be allowed to do his job but expressed doubts if he could accomplish something that he failed to do after staying 18 months as AFP chief.

Esperon debunked claims of two senior bishops that his term extension would cause unrest and demoralization in the ranks, even saying military commanders welcomed his stay.

"If the demoralization is a result of not being promoted, then they (bishops) might be wrong in the presumption that our officers who are focused in the field are after their promotions," he said.

"Maybe those who are dreaming to be promoted immediately, instead of doing their job (are demoralized)," he added.

Esperon also said military commanders and junior officers have welcomed the extension which he said would be put to good use not only in the fight against the communists but also against terrorist Abu Sayyaf group.

"I’m so appreciative of the support of the unified commanders, not only through media but also through texting or when we spoke on the cell phone. You (media) are talking about demoralization but almost all main commanders and including some young officers are calling me (to express their support)," he said Esperon.

Chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Antonio Apostol said there are some "sectors in the CBCP who are really anti-administration" but they are only a few and do not in any way control or influence the government.

Apostol added that instead of criticizing the government, they should focus more on their main task which is to promote morality among the people.

"It’s their basic job, linisin ang morality. That is why there are so many sects being organized because those who are in charge of the souls forget their basic jobs," he added.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez said the peace negotiation between government and the communists might hit a snag before it could take off because of Esperon’s extension.

"His pronouncement of relentless attack (against the communists) could, in effect, show that efforts to resume the peace talks may

Iñiguez said what is needed more as of the moment is more "confidence building" efforts between the two parties.

The formal peace talks last hit a snag in 2004 when the United States including the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army in its list of foreign terrorist organizations. – Dennis Gadil, Wendell Vigilia, Victor Reyes and Jocelyn Montemayor