Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Troops regain Kolambugan, Kauswagan township By Froilan Gallardo
KAUSWAGAN, Lanao del Norte -- An Army general said troops have found the bodies of 25 civilians when government forces regained control of the towns of Kauswagan and Kolambugan Monday noon.
Most of the civilians who died in Monday's clash were from the villages of Kauswagan town, where Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels tried to seize Monday morning, said Brigadier General Antonio Supnet, chief of the Army 104th Brigade.
Supnet said 21 bodies were found in Kauswagan and another four were found in nearby Kolambugan town.
Police said two of the bodies were found inside a Rural Transit bus in Kolambugan.
Supnet also said that the rebels burned at least 20 houses in Barangay Lapayan, Kauswagan town when they fled.
Troops of the Army 5th Infantry Battalion regained control of Kolambugan town after suspected MILF rebels withdrew towards the town of Tangkal in Lanao del Sur.
Supnet said the troops also cleared the highway between Iligan City to the cities of Pagadian, Dipolog, Ozamiz and the rest of Zamboanga peninsula.
He advised the public though that it is safer to travel during day and said they could not guarantee of the rebels mounting attack at night.
"The rebel tried to impede our advance by blocking the highway with vehicles whose tires they have deflated," he said.
Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesperson, admitted the rebel forces that attacked the town of Kolambugan were members of the MILF, but said the attack was not ordered by the rebel group's Central Committee.
"We were also taken by surprise. When the Central Committee established contact with the MILF commanders in Lanao del Norte, they ordered the withdrawal," Kabalu told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Kabalu also said the killings of civilians were unfortunate, but said this was not committed by the MILF forces.
He said the killings were perpetuated by the Maranaos who are not MILF members and who have deep animosity with the Christians in Lanao del Norte.
Kabalu said the MILF is conducting an investigation on the killings and urged the government to likewise do the same.
He also said the fleeing rebels are holding as hostages seven soldiers and eight paramilitary men they captured in the town of Kolambugan, adding that their forces earlier took hostage some women and children as they fled, but the MILF Central Committee have ordered them released.
Supnet said pursuing soldiers have recovered the freed women and children but the rebels are holding on to 50 hostages.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo meantime told the rebels in a televised statement to withdraw immediately or they will be crushed.
"This is not just a violation of the peace agreement, but also a challenge to the overall aspirations of the people for peace and progress in the whole island of Mindanao," Arroyo said, calling the attacks "sneaky and treacherous."
"We will not tolerate and will crush any attempt to disturb peace and development," Arroyo said.
Evacuees
Hundreds of residents displaced by the fighting have been streaming into evacuation centers in the town of Linamon and Iligan city.
Many of the displaced residents came by small boats, bringing their possessions. Some were seen carrying TV sets or helping old people off the boats.
Trucks and other vehicles brought the evacuees to the parade grounds of City High School in downtown Iligan where the local government had set up tents and first aid stations.
A photojournalist said up to 100 people escaped in dozens of boats to Iligan because the main highway was blocked.
TV footage Monday showed mayhem in one smoldering village as residents ran for cover, jumping over the fence of their roadside houses. Burned-out vehicles littered the street.
William Sicheco, 14, a resident of Kolambugan town, said the MILF rebels came around 4 a.m. Monday and sprayed the houses, including theirs, with gunfire.
"My father died. We ran and left his body in our house," Sicheco said.
He said his mother and four siblings hid in the bushes behind their house for hours until the soldiers arrived and retook control of the town.
Soldiers found Sicheco was hit, a bullet still lodged on his left arm. They brought him to Iligan City for treatment.
Michael Enat, manager of Cosmopolitan funeral homes in Iligan City, said an army truck brought the bodies of nine civilians from Kauswagan who had been shot and hacked to death.
Iligan City imposed a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew Monday night and buses were only allowed to ply between Cagayan.
