Wednesday, August 08, 2007 Gov't starts Basilan siege: MILF By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE military operation in Basilan has started as the Philippine Marines reportedly launched more than 40 rounds of 105mm howitzers and 80mm mortars at Barangay Sungkayot in the town of Pukan Ungkaya Monday afternoon.
In their official website, Luwaran.com, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said Sitio Boheh Marang received most of the bombardment. The area is said to be inhabited by the Yakans.
The report said the Marines were conducting patrol when they chanced upon a group of armed men in said village resulting to a 15-minute firefight. It was not known what group the Marines encountered. No one was reported injured from both sides.
The MILF meanwhile complained of the alleged "mixed signals" coming from the government.
Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, urged the government to adopt a unified position so as not to confuse the situation, which might lead to more complex problem.
"It is not good to hear two signals coming from the same government," he said.
