|
Monday, February 04, 2008
265 families displaced, 1 killed in MILF-police clash
By Antonio M. Manaytay
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay -- A ceasefire watch team sent to investigate a clash between government authorities and separatist rebels said it appeared it was the local police who initiated the violence in a barangay in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.
"There was an ambush...a civilian (was killed) in the process," was the initial assessment of Bantay Ceasefire (ceasefire watch) team sent to Barangay Lakiki.
Post here your Valentine's Day greetings
Bantay Ceasefire also noted the presence of displaced families. The initial count was 165 families in Barangay Lakiki and 100 families in the nearby barangay of Kabunan.
Earlier reports said a group of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters attacked a police patrol in the early morning of January 30, wounding four including a police officer.
Initial investigation conducted by the Bantay Ceasefire, however, revealed the opposite.
Pastor Reu Montecillo, a member of the grassroots peace monitor, said: "Based on the accounts of the people in the community and ocular inspection on the sites of the encounter, it was the police who attacked the Moro rebels first."
However, the local police blamed the MILF for the ambush.
The Sibuco police, numbering around 18, was allegedly on a mission to serve a warrant of arrest against a certain Mulong in Barangay Lakiki.
Witnesses from the community composed mostly of barangay officials alleged that it was the police, positioned on a high ground, who fired at MILF fighters, numbering about 40.
The only civilian casualty, identified as Hadja Noraida Langgal, was not killed due to the crossfire.
Witnesses said the victim's house was not situated in the line of fire.
The police also requested for reinforcement from the 44th Infantry Battalion under Colonel William Abao.
According to witnesses, the Army fired two 105 howitzers and undetermined number of mortars that did not explode.
The firefight lasted for four hours. It started at 8 a.m. and ended around noon.
It is very evident, according to Montecillo, that because the police were on high ground, they were the ones who "ambushed the MILF rebels."
"It was also initially established that the police did not coordinate their mission even with barangay officials to avoid the encounter," Montecillo said.
Barangay Lakiki is a satellite camp of MILF rebels.
According to Salman Jawarie, spokesperson of the 113 Base Command of the MILF, government agreed to let MILF consider Barangay Lakiki as its "territory" where its members can stay.
"Because it is considered an MILF territory, the police should have coordinated with us to avoid the unfortunate incident," Jawarie said.
Montecillo said there is a need for both the government and the MILF to conduct further investigations to prevent the conflict from growing out of proportion.
"The situation is very volatile especially since one of the sons of the victim (Hadja Langgal) is a police officer assigned in nearby Sirawai town," Montecillo said.
There is also a need, Montecillo added, to look into the needs of some 265 families who were affected by the incident. (AMM/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (February 4, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Admin parties to discuss House speakership row