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Saturday, June 12, 2004
MILF, militia clash
By Jun Feliciano
SOME 100 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels mounted an attack at the Philippine Army detachment manned by auxiliary forces belonging to the Civilian Auxiliary Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and civilian volunteers Thursday morning, at Barangay Nunangan, Talipay, Maguindanao.
The Southern Command reported that the Moro rebels, under Commander Saidamin Nidtim, assaulted the place that resulted in a sporadic fighting with the undermanned militiamen, resulting to one wounded on the government side.
Their clash lasted from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The rebels were only forced to withdraw to the forests when soldiers from the 37th IB reinforced the civilian volunteers and engaged them in a fierce firefight.
The military in the area reported that undetermined number of casualties was inflicted on the rebels' side, according the Southcom.
At least 35 families have evacuated to safer grounds for fear of being caught in the crossfire, the military said.
The Moro guerrillas staged the attack in the area, because of land conflict, according to a military report reaching the Southcom here.
The evacuees are presently housed temporarily at a vacant site near the Rural Health Center in Talipay town, the report added.
The Thursday attack was recorded as the latest atrocity allegedly committed by the MILF since they agreed to talk peace with the national government that began last year, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The latest round of talks was held in Davao City, this year. The military blamed the MILF for various ceasefire violations allegedly committed against the government forces since the cessation of hostilities took effect.
The MILF, on the other hand, refuted that the military's continuous offensives in their claimed territories, particularly in Central Mindanao, is tantamount to serious violations of the ceasefire agreement.
Both complaints have been referred to the joint committee for cessation of hostilities, according to Southcom OIC-spokesman Major Bartolome Bacarro.
(June 12, 2004 issue)
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