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Friday, June 30, 2006
Moro renegades attack 2 military units in Maguindanao; 1 hurt
MORO Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels on Thursday overran two military detachments in Maguindanao due to continued military shelling of a rebel base in the area, in violation of a standing truce between the two sides, the MILF spokesman said.
At around 6 p.m. Wednesday, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said government militiamen shelled Camp Omar in Shariff Aguak town using 81 mm and 60 mm mortars. The rebel camp straddles the villages of Papikan, Kuloy and Bagong.
Kabalu said he is not aware why the soldiers attacked their camp with mortar fires, which he said injured an MILF fighter. “We are also wondering why the militiamen were armed with such high-powered firearms,” he added.
She said the military attacks stopped only between 12 noon to 2 p.m. when MILF rebels retaliated by overrunning two military detachments at the village of Igana Zampong town, also in sheriff Aguak town.
Captain Jose Ritchie Pabilonia, spokesman of the Southern Command (Southcom), said he was unaware of the skirmishes. Officials of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, which has responsibility over Maguindanao, could not be reached for confirmation.
Kabalu said the MILF has no casualty in the offensive while witnesses saw at least 10 bodies of militiamen being loaded on vehicles after the skirmish.
He said members of the MILF-Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the International Monitoring Team are coordinating with top military officials in Central Mindanao to avert the escalation of violence.
When told that the attacks could be part of government’s effort to serve a warrant on MILF commanders Jamil Ombra and Sajid Pakiladato, Kabalu said that if that was purpose, the warrants should be served by the PNP.
Kabalu nevertheless denied that Ombra and Pakiladato were staying at the attacked rebel camp. The two MILF leaders are being linked to a bombing in 2003 that killed Datu Piang town mayor Saudi Ampatuan Sr.
Ampatuan is the son of Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan, who survived a bomb attack last week in Shariff Aguak town. Five people, mostly security escorts of the governor, were killed and at least 10 others were injured in the attack.
During a visit in Shariff Aguak town shortly after the attack against the governor, PNP Chief Arturo Lomibao directed the regional police office to serve the standing warrants on Ombra and Pakiladato. (VR/Sunnex)
(June 30, 2006 issue)
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