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Article: Priest warns against arming civilians.(Philippines defense against Abu Sayyaf group)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- National Catholic Reporter
- Article date:
- June 29, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 National Catholic Reporter. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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PHILIPPINES: Arming civilians against a rebel group may backfire on the Philippine government, a priest cautioned.
The warning came moments after news reports that an American hostage was killed by Abu Sayyaf rebels in the southern Philippines.
Fr. Martin Jumoad, administrator of Isabela Prelature, said he "dreads the proliferation of arms among civilians" on Basilan island because people who help the government now "may later join the Abu Sayyaf."
The extremist group is fighting for an independent Islamic state in the south of the predominantly Catholic Philippines and has engaged in kidnapping Filipinos and foreigners for ransom.
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