BY VICTOR REYES

THE Armed Forces yesterday said it will sustain the offensive against rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels even without the P1.8 billion funding being requested by the Department of National Defense from President Arroyo.

"It will be a big help if that will be approved but even without such support, we have no other recourse but push through with our operations against various threats," said Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, chief of the AFP public affairs office.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Friday night said President Arroyo has yet to approve his recommendation to realign at least P1.8 billion which was originally intended for the AFP’s Capability Upgrade Program (CUP).

The "unobligated" budget is part of the P5 billion released by the Department of Budget and Management in January 2007 to fund CUP projects for that year. The special allotment release order representing the entire P5 billion is expiring at the end of this year.

The P1.8 billion remains "unobligated" because of some "technicalities" in the procurement process.

Teodoro, in an October 22 letter to Arroyo, said plans to purchase tactical radio sets, sniper rifles, grenade launchers and Iroquois, or "Huey" helicopters could be suspended, and the budget for these re-aligned to support "additional operational and intelligence requirements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the 4th quarter of fiscal year 2008."

The government has spent nearly P1 billion for the offensive that started around mid-August and to feed and provide shelter to more than half a million people displaced by the fighting in Central Mindanao.

Government forces are running after three commanders who attacked civilian communities in North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Iligan City and Sarangani in July and August.

Torres, asked if the military is running out of resources to push through with the offensive, said the operation is "sustainable."

He said the additional budget being requested by Teodoro would be a big help in replenishing equipment, ammunition and even gasoline needed in the offensive.

Forty-five soldiers have died and nearly 200 others have been wounded in the campaign. The military would not give casualty figures for the MILF.

Hermogenes Esperon, presidential adviser of the peace process, reiterated the government’s conditions for peace talks with the MILF to resume.

"The minimum requirements (for the talks to resume) are we must be able to assure ourselves that the people and the communities are safe. Number two, that the MILF has regained control over their (rogue commanders)," he said.

President Arroyo dissolved the government panel in the peace talks last September mainly because of the attacks of the three rogue commanders.

The MILF leadership has refused to surrender Ameril Umbra Kato of the 105th Base Command, Abdurahman Macapaar alias Bravo (102nd), and Aleem Pangalian of the 103rd Base Command.

OIC secretary general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has appealed to the government and the MILF to resume the talks and end the fighting, saying the situation "empowers undisciplined elements who seek to abort the peace process and fuel extremist feelings."

Esperon criticized MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal for blaming the government for the collapse of the talks, specifically for the aborted signing of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain which has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Esperon asked Iqbal if he was authorized to make such a statement.