|
Sunday, November 02, 2008
19 Moro rebels killed in air assault
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Nineteen Muslim separatist rebels have been killed in fresh air strikes as the Army continued operations against the guerrillas blamed for attacks on civilians three months ago, an official said.
Lieutenant Colonel Julieto Ando, spokesman for the military's 6th Infantry Division, said soldiers backed by rocket-firing planes encountered about 100 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas Friday in three separate areas in a marshy region in Maguindanao province.
What's your take on the Mindanao crisis? Discuss views with other readers
He said rebels customarily carry away their casualties, but civilian informants and intelligence sources reported that 19 guerrillas have been killed. He said three soldiers were slightly wounded and rejoined the military operation.
"We launched an air assault to thwart reinforcement on the enemy side," Ando said, adding that radio reports from the ground indicated that 19 MILF rebels were killed in the air raid.
Rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu denied Ando's report, dismissing it as "military propaganda."
Ando said soldiers were checking reports from civilians that rebels were planning to attack military positions when they encountered the guerrillas led by Ameril Umbra Kato, one of three rebel commanders who are targets of military operations for allegedly leading attacks that killed dozens of civilians in August.
"Our operations against Kato are ongoing," Ando said. "They were mobile and encountered our troops going to the direction of their location."
Reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed that the air assault was carried out after rebels attacked an Army outpost Friday near the town of Datu Piang.
Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman Major Randolph Cabangbang said at 8 a.m. on October 31, about 100 MILF rebels encountered elements from the 68th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Kitango, Mamasapano.
The number of rebels killed in the air offensive has reportedly been confirmed by reports from the ground.
Fighting for the past week has been concentrated mostly in a sprawling marshland area where MILF units have been engaging the troops.
The government has suspended peace talks with the MILF and ordered a massive assault after two rebel commanders launched a string of deadly attacks across Mindanao in August.
The rebels killed over 60 civilians, ransacked businesses and burned over 100 homes in a deadly rampage condemned by international aid agencies. The attacks were the deadliest in the past five years.
The MILF said the attacks were carried out by commanders who were angered by a court decision stopping implementation of a land deal that would have given the MILF control over a Muslim autonomous area.
Fighting since August has affected more than 600,000 people, many of whom remain in squalid evacuation camps, aid agencies and social workers said. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(November 2, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
113 bodies found at Princess’ wreck