‘Private Army’ attacks village
Saturday, March 20, 2010
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PANATAO RAGAT, Lanao del Norte -- The armed men encountered by government troops on Thursday morning in Barangay Kalawi here were believed to be members of a private army of a politician.
Lieutenant Colonel Allan Hambala, commander of the 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army, said the undetermined armed men attacked Barangay Kalawi, a hinterland town of Panatao Ragat in this province, on Thursday morning.
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Hambala said he received reports from civilian informants about the presence of armed group while they were on patrol about 300 meters from the town hall.
He said when they went to check, the armed men opened fire and hit Police Officer 1 Arnold Bihag, who was brought to a hospital in the nearby Iligan City for treatment.
He said the firefight lasted for seven hours wherein 36 81mm mortar ammunitions were released to the enemy's position in an abandoned mosque.
Hambala said the re-enforcement sent by Lieutenant Colonel Juvy Max Uy of the 43rd IB stationed in Suarez, Iligan City were ambushed in Batangan, Matungao town, an adjacent municipality.
He said no one was hurt since an armored tank was following the troops and returned fire.
Hambala said politicians belonging to Lakas-Kampi-CMD tried to negotiate for the armed men’s withdrawal.
However, snipers from the military saw a number of armed snipers from the enemy, hence a new firefight ensued, Hambala said.
After the firefight, he said at least three men were killed and three injured from the armed group’s side while one personnel from the government forces was wounded.
“Me and my troops were nearly hit from an M203 bombardment. This is the highest degree of violation after the Commission on Elections imposed a gun ban," Hamabala said.
Umisalam Macabanding, school principal of Pantao Ragat Agro-Industrial High School, said it was the armed men allegedly belonging to a private army who fired first while they were having classes.
He said more than 500 students scampered for safety with the help of the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Police Superintendent Ferdinand Bartolome said the PNP will file a case against the private army who attacked the town after all evidences would be gathered.
A military source said the armed group came from Matungao, Balo-i, Pantao Ragat, Poona Piagapo and some from Lanao del Sur.
Earlier, Panatao Ragat was recommended to be under Martial Law due to alleged presence of private armies in the area but did not workout. (Richel V. Umel)
