COTABATO CITY, 12 January 2003 — More villagers evacuated their homes yesterday to escape fresh fighting between government troops and Muslim separatists, residents here said.
About 350 families, or some 1,750 people, have fled Polomolok in Sultan Kudarat and Tulunan town in adjacent North Cotabato, where government artillery and helicopter gunships have pounded guerrilla positions since Thursday.
Richard Abo, the village chief of Kalibong in Tulunan, said he waited until daybreak yesterday before evacuating about 150 families. He said the villagers took their farm animals and produce as they fled toward a highway on their way to the Tulunan town center.
"Mortars and rockets were flying very near our homes (on Friday)," he said.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu denied guerrillas had been killed but said three were wounded.
"Only three of our fighters were injured and we have no casualties. Why would we not tell the truth? It's an honor for us to die fighting," he said.
He also denied the Pentagon gang had entered guerrilla areas, saying the military was using it as an excuse to attack the rebels in violation of a 1997 ceasefire.
Kabalu warned the fighting could escalate if a ceasefire panel does not intervene.
"This will be war because we cannot do anything but defend ourselves and defend our position," he said, adding the military should have filed a complaint to initiate an investigation that kidnappers had entered rebel areas.
Army Col. Agustin Dema-ala said the soldiers "do not have the luxury of time" to coordinate with the government-MILF ceasefire panel.
"We are not attacking the MILF because of the ceasefire agreement but the bandits sought refuge in MILF-identified areas, so we have to pursue them," he said.
