SUMISIP, Basilan, 29 August —  A total of 20 civilians were reported killed and eight were believed abducted in two separate armed attacks on remote villages in thr troubled southern island of Basilan.

Nineteen of the dead victims, including 14 minors, were massacred early yesterday morning at Barangay Baiwas in Sumisip town and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) blamed the military for the attack.

A woodcutter was killed and two others were missing in the second attack by unidentified gunmen in the village of Calugusan in Lantawan town, officials said.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu accused elements of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion OF committing the “heinous” crime in Sumisip town.

“There was a prior encounter in the area, they (soldiers) came back (and) indiscriminately killed 14 children, five adults and took away six others,” Kabalu told reporters.

“Report said that an encounter between the attacking soldiers with undetermined number of armed group took place before the execution of mass killings,” he said.

He said he was told that the soldiers “were frustrated because of the lukewarm attitude” the villagers had shown them.

“Apparently, they got angry and could have been carried away by their emotions,” said Kabalu, who claimed that the victims were all Muslims and sympathizers of the MILF.

He said the MILF would file a formal protest with the government peace panel, and called for an immediate investigation into the alleged killings.

‘Wild allegations’

The military confirmed that there was a firefight in the area, but denied that troops had killed unarmed civilians.

An incident report sent to the armed forces headquarters in nearby Zamboanga City confirmed there was a clash in the area, but said the only casualties were two Abu Sayyaf rebels who were shot dead.

Col. Hermogenes Esperon, the military commander in Basilan, dismissed the MILF claim as “wild allegations”.

In the Lantawan incident, Basilan police chief Akmadul Pangambayan said the suspects were Abu Sayyaf guerrilla bandits holding several hostages, including Americans.

“Gunmen opened fire on the victims and one was killed while two others are still missing,” he said. “Police are investigating the motive.”

Colonel Esperon said his troops are pursuing the attackers.

It is not clear whether the killers of the woodcutter were from the same unit holding the hostages.

On Saturday, also on Basilan, at least six people were killed and six others were wounded when suspected Abu Sayyaf members fired on a passenger jeep.

The military said one soldier was killed and another wounded. Police said one of the fatalities was a 5-year-old child.

The Abu Sayyaf has carried out numerous raids on remote villages in recent months. Early this month, they kidnapped and then beheaded 10 civilians seized from Balobo village on Basilan. The MILF operates in parts of Basilan, but has denied military accusations that it provides the smaller Abu Sayyaf group with sanctuary in its bases.