Monday, November 03, 2008 26 Moro rebels, 7 soldiers killed in fresh clashes
AT LEAST 26 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) associated with the rebel leaders who are wanted by authorities, and another seven from the government side were killed in the latest encounter in Central Mindanao.
The Tactical Command Post of the Army's 6th Infantry (Kampilan), through Colonel Julieto Ando, said the military and a group of more than 100 LMG men led by Kumander Wahid Tundok crossed paths in Barangay Dapyawan, Datu Sawde Ampatuan, Maguindanao Province around 10 a.m. Saturday.
The fighting continued for the entire day, with both groups using high caliber weapons.
The group retreated towards Rio Grande De Mindanao upon the arrival of the combined forces of the Army's 68th, 64th, and 54th Infantry Battalions.
According to MILF civil military relations chief, Eid Kabalu, their group lost eight men while the military lost 11 of its men.
Ando denied Kabalu's claims.
The fighting continued Sunday in Maguindanao and the boundary of Cotabato province. (Garry Fuerzas)
