COTABATO CITY, 20 April 2003 — Six civilians were killed and three others injured in an ambush-massacre by government paramilitary troops in the southern province of North Cotabato, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) claimed yesterday.
An MILF report identified the victims as Mama Agal, Gumbay Balimbingan and his wife Didaon Balimbingan, Sendad Sultan, Badria Agal a woman and Timbora Malidas, 12.
The victims were all residents of Palipayin village in barangay Dado of Alamada town, said thereport.
They were reportedly on their way to the town center to transport goods and other farm products, yesterday being a market day, when they were fired upon by members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit, or CAFGU.
The MILF report noted that the community is dominated by Ilonggos while “the victims are all Bangsamoro Muslim native of the area.”
The report also complained of attacks on other Muslim civilians elsewhere in Mindanao.
In Davao City, the military said five MILF fighters were captured while trying to attack an army patrol near Matanao town in Davao del Sur province, about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) south of Manila.
“Soldiers captured five rebels, including the MILF unit commander Rashid Mujahid. They are all undergoing interrogation,” said military southern command spokesman Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero. Mujahid’s rebel unit was engaged in extortion in the area, he alleged.
There was no comment by the MILF on the military report.
