As Eid al-Fitr was being celebrated two weeks ago in the Muslim-majority southern Philippines, the military launched lethal air and artillery strikes against suspected Muslim separatist Abu Sayyaf fighters, causing outrage among Muslims.

The ensuing battle left almost 50 people dead including up to 24 fighters and eight soldiers.

But as Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports from Jolo in southern Philippines, the Muslim general who ordered the attack is making no apologies.