Wednesday, May 28, 2008 Basilan mayor wants more troops
A MUNICIPAL mayor in Basilan province is asking the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to deploy more troops in his town to ensure the safety and security of his constituents.
The request comes from Mayor Joel Maturan of Ungkaya Pukan town where fresh fighting erupted between Marine troops and combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Abu Sayyaf.
The fresh fighting ensued when Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels backed by Abu Sayyaf bandits attacked a marine detachment in Tongbato village (not Tong Batu as earlier reported) in the town of Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan early Sunday.
Two of the attackers died while 17 soldiers including an officer from the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT)-8 were wounded.
Of the 17 injured, 10 were wounded when the V-150 Armed Personnel Carrier (APC) they were riding in hit a landmine while on its way to reinforce the beleaguered marine detachment.
Maturan said there is a need to augment the military troops stationed in his town to deter further attacks by insurgents.
Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwem) chief Rear Admiral Emilio Marayag said they do not intend to deploy additional forces to Ungkay Pukan town "because the ground commander has not recommended" it.
"We will further deploy better defense position. If we have to realign our forces there just to make sure that we can adequately defend our existing position, then we will do it," Marayag said.
Maturan said more than 400 families have fled their homes for fear that fighting between the rebels and government forces would escalate.
The civilians who fled their homes are now staying with relatives and friends in Materling village, he added.
The evacuees came from the villages of Bohe-suyak and Sungkayot. Ungkaya Pukan, a town created on May 22, 2006, has 12 villages.
Maturan urged the concerned government agencies to help them attend to the needs of the evacuees. (Bong Garcia)
