PRESIDENT Arroyo on Monday warned terrorists that they face annihilation if they hurt any members of a medical team she had dispatched to Basilan to treat wounded soldiers and conduct free clinics for residents.

Speaking at the anniversary celebrations of a hospital in Quezon City, the President announced that she had sent a group of doctors and medical personnel from the V. Luna Medical Center to augment the staff in the military field hospital in Zamboanga City, which serves the Western Mindanao Command.

“As we dispatch them, I take this opportunity of national television carrying us to issue this stern warning to the terrorists: these medical professionals are on a mission of compassion . . . Harm them, and Hades will come to you,” she said.

She added that the medical team—which will conduct free clinics in areas affected by hostilities in Basilan such as Lamitan, Isabela, and Tipo-Tipo “will treat people whose lot you have worsened by your belligerence when the peace we have pursued would have allowed them to join the rest of the nation in productive pursuits.”

The President issued the warning shortly after a joint investigation team of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said there were 10 suspects in the beheading of 10 Marines in Basilan on July 10, but declined to divulge their identities.

Party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman of Anak Mindanao, meanwhile, said he would seek congressional investigation into the July 10 Basilan incident.

Hataman said there is a need for the government to get to the bottom of the incident to restore peace in Basilan.

He said there are many inconsistencies and gray areas in various investigation reports on the incident, thus the need for a congressional inquiry.

Meanwhile, an additional Marine battalion arrived in Basilan on Saturday, bringing to some 3,000 the Marines now deployed on the island.

The Navy boat carrying the Marine Battalion Landing Team-7 (MBLT-7) docked at Tulay Batu Port in Lamitan City and unloaded the fresh troops.

The MBLT-7 was involved in the clash against an Abu Sayyaf band that resulted in the death of Khadafy Janjalani, top leader of the bandits, last year in Sulu. (With B. Garcia Jr.)

PRESIDENT Arroyo on Monday warned terrorists that they face annihilation if they hurt any members of a medical team she had dispatched to Basilan to treat wounded soldiers and conduct free clinics for residents.

AN alleged attempt to bomb SM malls in Metro Manila by the Jema’ah Islamiyah (JI) was foiled over the weekend following the arrest of one of its members.

PASIG Mayor Robert Eusebio on Monday urged the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to seek legal remedies to stop the drastic increase in garbage dumping fees imposed by the Rodriguez, Rizal, local government for the use of the sanitary landfill in that place.

A MILITANT legislator wants Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes investigated over the US$1.3-million alleged “midnight deal” he signed before leaving the Department of Environment and Natural Resources last week, an act the congressman said is another case of corruption involving a high-profile government official.

Oillink International Corp.’s depot in Mariveles, Bataan, would have to remain closed after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) scored a preliminary victory following the Court of Tax Appeals’ (CTA) lifting of the temporary restraining order (TRO) that it earlier issued to the petroleum company.

THE government could lose control over the proceeds and development of the oil and gas prospects along the Reed Bank, should it proceed to explore and develop the block with its tripartite partners China and Vietnam instead of allowing a British-based petroleum player to proceed with its work in the area.