COTABATO CITY, 1 June 2003 — Clashes erupted yesterday in the southern Philippines between government troops and separatist guerrillas, leaving at least 23 people dead just days before the 10-day unilateral cease-fire declared by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) could take effect, the military said.
Maj. Gen. Generoso Senga, commander of the army’s 6th Infantry Division, said 70 guerrillas ambushed a group of militiamen near Upi municipality in Maguindanao province, killing seven and wounding two.
The rebels seized the weapons of the militiamen and escaped. Troops backed by two M-520 attack helicopters pursued the guerrillas, killing 12. Sporadic gunbattles in the area continued for most of yesterday morning, he said.
“This is treachery toward their own pronouncement that there will be a cease-fire on Monday,” Senga said.
In another encounter, troops launched a strike on a rebel group planning to attack an army camp, killing four guerrillas and capturing six others in Datu Paglas town south of Maguindanao, Senga said.
Troops recovered four assault rifles and three rocket-propelled grenade launchers, he said.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu defended the attack as legitimate. “The suspension of offensives will take effect on Monday yet. Militiamen are legitimate targets before then,” he said.
Kabalu also said MILF guerrillas were under instruction to fire back if attacked.
“Our forces cannot be sitting ducks, so they were told to put up a defense in case of an enemy offensive,” he said.
Senga said that while the Maguindanao ambush was taking place, MILF rebels were harassing Marine detachments in Barangay Bago Inged, a village in the Buliok complex in Pikit, North Cotabato. No soldier was reported hurt.
In Datu Paglas, also in Maguindanao, four rebels were reportedly killed in a clash with soldiers from the army’s 47th and 39th Infantry Battalion.
Four more rebels were reportedly killed in an early-morning encounter yesterday in Barangay Puya, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat.
Brig. Gen. Agustin Dema-ala, commander of the army’s 301st Infantry Brigade based in Tacurong City, said heavily armed rebels were on their way to an attack when soldiers spotted them.
Dema-ala said six rebels were captured during the 45-minute battle. Soldiers also recovered three M16 rifles, one M14, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers and seven bullets, and one M203.
In Cagayan de Oro City, Maj. Gen. Cristolito Balaoing, commander of the army’s 4th Infantry Division, said a yet unknown number of rebels were killed Friday as the military intensified bombardment of guerrilla positions in Butig, Lanao del Sur.
Senga said the MILF declaration of a cease-fire was just a ploy.
He said the MILF was merely trying to strengthen its ground position and was conning the government into thinking it was sincere.
He also said the attacks yesterday indicated that MILF guerrillas were “beating the deadline imposed by their leaders.”
Kabalu said all MILF field commanders would have received orders on the cease-fire by June 2. “We are sure that by that date, all our military action against the government will cease,” he said.
The MILF announced on Wednesday the 10-day unilateral cease-fire starting June 2. But it demanded the withdrawal of troops from guerrilla areas and the recall of arrest warrants for rebel leaders.
Kabalu assured peace advocates and other cause oriented groups in Mindanao that the MILF will not back out from its truce offer despite the military bombardment of their camps.
President Arroyo earlier rejected the MILF offer as a “ruse” after MILF rebels attacked two army positions in Carmen, North Cotabato, killing at least five civilians nearby.
“We will not stand for double talk,” she said in a statement Friday. “It is clear that the declaration of a cease-fire by the MILF is a ploy and a tactical ruse ... Unless proof of sincerity is shown, punitive actions will continue.”
Arroyo earlier gave the MILF central committee until today to issue a written declaration renouncing terrorism and terrorist links; to disclose the rebels’ positions; and to surrender the perpetrators of the attacks on civilians last month in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, and in Maigo, Lanao del Norte.
MILF leaders have denied any connection to terrorist attacks.
