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Saturday, June 28, 2008
MILF member killed in Maguindanao clash
By Malu C. Manar
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Government troops in Guindulungan town in Maguindanao recovered Friday morning the body of a still unidentified Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebel who was believed hit at the height of the armed encounter in Barangay Bagan, Thursday night.
Hundreds of families in two villages in Guindulungan town fled to safer grounds for fear they would be caught in the crossfire, reports from the 6th Infantry Division said.
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The fighting came after some 100 elements of the 105th Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) harassed the detachment of the 64th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Bagan, Thursday afternoon.
Reports from the 6th ID said the attackers were led by a certain Commander Ustadz Zainudin Pangawilan.
While the armed fighting was ongoing, military said the rebels under the command of Umbra Kato, Tundok, and Abas Kudanding, also of the 105th BIAF of the MILF, were sighted massing up in nearby Barangays Nunangan and Datu Angel Midtimbang, both in Guindulungan.
A top military intelligence officer in central Mindanao said some 100 MILF rebels were also sighted in Sitio Olango, Barangay Kibucay, collecting food from the residents in the area.
He said the rebels are set to attack the area "at any opportune time."
"But we're ready. As always, we've been on a defensive position," said Colonel Julieto Ando, spokesman of the 6th ID.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu admitted it was their group that led the attack in Guindulungan and in other areas in Saranggani.
But the attack, he clarified, was not sanctioned by the central leadership.
"Our commanders in the field are already restless because of the slow pace of the peace talks. Since there are no positive results yet of the talks, they resorted to these tactical offensives," Kabalu said.
Text messages have started circulating in the city and in other areas in North Cotabato that MILF rebels are out to set up blocking forces along the Cotabato-General Santos highway and Kidapawan-Tacurong City road.
Ando said the military has yet to verify the report. (MCM/Sunstar Davao)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (June 28, 2008 issue)
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