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Sunday, September 14, 2008
15 Moro rebels killed, hurt in Sarangani clash
MANILA -- At least 15 renegade Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels were either killed or wounded in a continuing firefight in Maasim, Sarangani as government troops assaulted a camp of the secessionists, a military official said Saturday.
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Major Armand Rico, spokesman for Eastern Mindanao Command, said the three companies (about 320 men) of troops belonging to the 73rd Infantry Battalion (IB) launched the operation Thursday at Sitio Macao-2 in Barangay Daliao following persistent reports of rebel presence in the area.
Rico said the troops initially saw at least 12 rebels in the area but 73rd IB Chief Edgardo de Leon directed his men "not to engage first, instead to observe the movement of the armed men and identify their defense positions, bearing in mind the guidance of higher headquarters to decimate lawless MILF groups."
He said de Leon debriefed his subordinate commanders, who even took pictures of the rebels while seeking cover about 700 meters away, and continued planning and identified rebel positions that would be hit by artillery fires.
At 4 a.m. Friday, Rico said de Leon inserted to the area another company from the 101st Division Reconnaissance Company as support elements. Between 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., the number of rebels swelled to around 100 as the soldiers began closing in and occupied vantage positions.
At 12:10 p.m., artillery fires were unleashed to the rebel positions on the order of de Leon.
Rico said at least 100 rebels scampering to their defense positions still unaware of the ground troops on cover.
The troops then fired 90mm rounds on the rebel positions, sparking exchange of fires between the two sides. Two soldiers were slightly wounded when they were hit by the rebels' rocket-propelled grenades.
As of Saturday afternoon, Rico said sporadic fighting were still ongoing as troops were on clearing operations at the well-defended camp.
"(The) estimated enemy casualty (is) 15 killed or wounded," said Rico. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (September 14, 2008 issue)
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