|
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Gov't troops, MILF members clash in Maguindanao
By Miko Santos
MILITARY troops and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) clashed Tuesday in central Mindanao, a report reaching Camp Aguinaldo said.
The report said 300 MILF members ambushed two platoons from the 3rd and 75th infantry battalions that were temporarily stationed in a military detachment in the area.
Defense Sec. Eduardo clarified that the soldiers were not after MILF rebels but were pursuing the abductors of Norman Sia of Davao City.
Ermita said government troops are pursuing the suspected kidnappers under the leadership of a certain Tahir Alonto in a MILF territory in Barangay Gawang, Datu Piang, Maguindanao.
Alonto is allegedly a leader of the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom group in central Mindanao.
Armed Forces Chief Narciso Abaya said the government operation was aimed at flushing out the kidnappers and rescuing Sia.
Sia, a nephew of the owner of People's Mart Hardware in Cotabato City, was kidnapped by the Pentagon group last Dec. 8.
The kidnappers merged with MILF forces and engaged the soldiers in a fierce clash that left 10 gunmen and two soldiers dead Sunday.
Meanwhile, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu denied that the rebels initiated the attack.
According to Kabalu, MILF forces killed five soldiers in an abandoned mosque in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province early Tuesday.
He said two others were being held as "prisoners of war (POWs)."
Kabalu added that clashes between the MILF and the military in Mindanao could delay the resumption of peace talks in January.
The fighting, which broke out last Saturday, came as the government and the Muslim separatist group prepared to hold exploratory peace talks in Malaysia early next year.
A mutual ceasefire agreement between the government and the MILF has been in effect since July 19, 2003 in accordance with the resumption of the peace talks being brokered by Malaysia.
(December 17, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
