Frias said that "there is hope for the Philippines, but it lies in the masses".
Former intelligence officer and now army division commander, Major General Eduardo Año announced that he would concentrate his division to crushing the communist movement in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley.
"After all, the members of the church are also citizens that must act on these issues to change them for the better," said Yanez.
The proposed facility for US troops in Cotabato City would be seen as an intrusion into the Bangsamoro homeland and would be regarded as "direct US intervention in Mindanao", a militant Moro group said.
Filipino media and human rights groups described as arrogant the remarks of President Benigno Aquino before a Belgian audience on the state of the country's human rights in the course of the government counterinsurgency campaign.