Fierce battles rage in Maitum (1:59 p.m.)
By Edwin G. Espejo
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Scores of heavily armed Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members launched simultaneous attacks in several villages of Maitum early Wednesday morning triggering a full-scale war between the Moro rebels and government troopers.
A truck from the Philippine Army was reportedly hit by a rocket-propelled-grenade (RPG) when it was ambushed by suspected MILF members.
Captain Patricio Tomales of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade based in Sarangani said some 50 heavily armed Moro rebels reportedly gunned down a still unidentified member of the civilian volunteer organization (CVO) at dawn Wednesday.
Another group of rebels also reportedly attacked a Philippine Army detachment in the village of Ticulab.
No casualties were reported in the attack as the area has been cordoned off. The attack triggered a counter offensive from the military.
“Several encounters are is till going on,” Captain Tomales said.
The whole town of Maitum is still gripped with tension and scores of residents in the affected villages have reportedly evacuated to the town center.
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