Tuesday, September 25, 2007 Cops, soldiers clash with MILF By Ben O. Tesiorna
ANOTHER armed encounter happened in Maguindanao province Sunday, four days after the bloody encounter between two warring clans last September 19 that resulted in the death of nine people and the wounding of four others.
Last Sunday's encounter was between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on one side and Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Army (PA) in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.
Major General Raymundo Ferrer, chief of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said the MILF rebels under Mando Tambungalan ambushed the group of SPO4 Adam Maliga of the Datu Saudi Ampatuan police at around 9:45 a.m.
Police authorities were said to be onboard a PNP vehicle when attacked along Salbu-Datu Piang road in barangay Kitango.
Militiamen from nearby Shariff Aguak responded to the distress call of the beleaguered policemen but were fired at as well.
A few hours later, two Army platoons from the 64th Infantry Battalion with Simba armored vehicle reinforced the government troops and cleared the highway of the MILF.
The firefight reportedly lasted until 4:35 p.m., almost seven hours after the ambush. The MILF rebels withdrew towards Sitio Tatapan.
Two Moro farmers were seriously hit in the firefight.
Nasser Kambali was hit on his chest while a stray bullet hit Tahir Muhammad's neck.
Both are farmers and residents of Barangay Crossing Salvo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan.
Reports from the Army's 6th Infantry Division said that the two were members of the MILF.
But MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu believed otherwise. He said that based on the records, Kambali and Muhammad are not organic members of the MILF.
Authorities said the MILF ambush on the Datu Saudi Ampatuan police chief could have stemmed from the September 15 incident when a certain Albaser Mamalapat was attacked by Datu Nut Tambungalan, a nephew of the MILF leader who ambushed authorities Sunday.
Lieutenant General Cardoso Luna, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, assured the public that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will remain to keep peace and counter lawlessness in the area. (With Malu Cadelina Manar)
