By Vittorio Hernandez

Palo, Leyte, Philippines

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III ruled out on Thursday an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) despite the massacre of 19 soldiers in Basilan on Tuesday.

Aquino said at rites commemorating the 67th anniversary of the Leyte Gulf landing that the country should learn its lessons from history, that no one is the real winner in the decades-long battle with the Muslim secessionist movement.

Members of the Philippine Army's Special Forces were chasing armed men in Barangay Cambug when they discovered that they have been surrounded by MILF, who started to fire on the soldiers.

The soldiers engaged in a nine-hour gunfire with MILF forces in Al-Barka, Basilan province, but were overwhelmed. The long battle caused the soldiers to run out of bullets and the 40 members of the Special Forces lost precious time reloading bullets into empty magazines.

After they ran out of bullets, some of the soldiers were captured by the MILF and later killed.

The force was also outnumbered, which resulted in the 19 deaths and injuries to 11 soldiers. Among the dead were three junior officers.

On the MILF side, the group lost six members.

The battle, considered one of the worst losses in the Army's history, prompted Aquino to call for a command conference on Friday.

Despite the Basilan battle, presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said the government would still push through with the next round of peace talks with MILF, although an exact date for the talks has not yet been set.

World - Aquino Rules Out All-Out War Against MILF Despite Basilan Battle | Global Viewpoint