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Monday, January 31, 2005
12 die in clash between soldiers, armed men
MANILA -- Government troops and armed men clashed in Lanao del Sur, leaving 12 gunmen dead and three soldiers wounded, the military said Sunday.
The eight-hour clash broke out Saturday as the 50 armed men were being pursued by the marines and police for the killing of four militiamen and torching of houses and shops in a village in Lanao del Sur's Tuburan town, Marines spokesman Rommel Abrau said in a statement.
Two town councilors were reported as among those killed: Tuburan councilors Pata Kibad and Latip Mabit.
Colonel Ben Dolorfino, 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team commander, confirmed the wounding of three of his men but declined to identify them until after their respective families have been informed.
The gunmen first shot a militiaman in the same town on Wednesday after prayers at a nearby mosque. Hours after the incident, armed militiamen tried to retrieve the body of their slain comrade but were attacked by the gunmen.
Overpowered, the militiamen withdrew towards the village proper, but they were followed there by the gunmen, who shot them dead and allegedly looted and burned houses and shops before escaping to the next village.
The conflict between the gunmen and the militiamen was allegedly part of the feud between two clans in the area who are fighting over the results of last May's local election, residents of the area said. (AP/PNA)
(January 31, 2005 issue)
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