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Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Roadside bomb wounds 4 marines
ZAMBOANGA -- Four marine troops were wounded in a roadside bombing in Patikul town, Jolo, the military said Tuesday.
Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, Philippine marine commandant, said a truckload of Philippine marines was driving through a village in Patikul when the bomb, allegedly detonated by the al-Qaeda-linked militants, went off in a pile of garbage.
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Dolorfino said four marines were wounded in the incident.
The troops recovered a 50-yard long electrical wire from the blast site, suggesting the attackers were laying in wait as the vehicle drove by.
Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, who are notorious for kidnappings, beheading hostages and bombings, have been active in and around Patikul town despite the US-backed Philippine offensives to dislodge them.
Last week, US troops in a Philippine military convoy came under fire from suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels also in Jolo, the capital town of Sulu. One militant was killed in the ambush.
Several dozen US troops are stationed on Jolo to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians as well as counterterrorism support to Filipino forces battling the insurgents.
The continued conflict in Mindanao, meanwhile, triggered civilians to carry guns for protection.
In an earlier report, the local government of Aleosan in North Cotabato said it is openly urging civilians in the town to arm themselves by seeking permits to carry guns.
"If you own a gun and are a registered resident, you can get a permit to carry it around town for only P25," said Manuelito Hillado, the municipal information officer.
He said out of the 32,875 residents, there are still "law-abiding" citizens as far as local gun licensing is concerned, although the actual number of firearms in their hands is difficult to determine.
Hillado added that only around 60 MRs [Memorandum Receipt] to carry firearms have been issued so far since the start of the year.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), however, warned the government of the increasing number of armed civilians in Central Mindanao.
The MILF said armed civilians may now be considered combatants and are thus subject for attacks by the rebels.
This prompted North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol to react, saying the arming of civilians in his province is but a natural act of self-preservation.
In an interview Tuesday, Piñol said that while they are not advocating for the arming of civilians, they could also not stop people from carrying guns to protect themselves.
He said the threat from the MILF is real and that combatants have not been distinguishing between civilians and government soldiers.
Piñol said it is but natural for the people to protect their family and properties no matter what, adding that for residents, arming themselves is just like fencing their house to prevent intruders from entering their property and harming their family.
The vice governor also challenged those who are opposed to the arming of civilians in North Cotabato to protect the people in the province from MILF attacks and they would gladly put their arms down.
"Kaya ba nila protektahan ang mga tao ng North Cotabato (Can they protect the people of North Cotabato?)," Piñol asked.
He, however, said they are not in favor of allowing the civilian populace to carry guns for the purpose of establishing another cult like the Ilaga. He said they only want civilians to protect themselves, nothing more.
There were concerns that insurgents may be plotting attacks in Manila as well.
Last week, Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor said a father and son were arrested in a Manila suburb allegedly in possession of a homemade bomb, a pistol, ammunition and a grenade. (AP/BOT of Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (November 26, 2008 issue)
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