ZAMBOANGA CITY, 27 September 2007 — The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), yesterday accused government soldiers of attacking its forces in the southern island of Basilan.
The fighting, which began Tuesday in Tipo-Tipo town, left 10 rebels and two soldiers dead, said army Maj. Eugene Batara, a spokesman for the military’s Western Mindanao Command.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu government troops assaulted rebel positions in the villages of Baguindan and Silangkum, sparking day-long fighting.
“The military has again violated the cease-fire agreement. Government troops attacked MILF forces without provocation,” Kabalu told Arab News by phone from an MILF camp in central Mindanao.
Supt. Salik Macapantar, Basilan police chief, said the fighting was between government forces and Abu Sayyaf extremists backed by MILF rebels. He said two Abu Sayyaf gunmen and three MILF fighters were killed in sporadic clashes and that 14 government soldiers and militiaman have been wounded also.
A high-school student was hit with a stray bullet, but is alive. “Five gunmen are dead and 14 soldiers wounded, including a pro-government militiaman. One student was also wounded,” he said.
Police said the fighting on Tuesday broke out after patrolling security forces ran into a group of armed men and a firefight ensued.
Military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said he has ordered an investigation to find out whether MILF members were involved in the fighting. “If necessary, we’ll file a complaint against the MILF for violating the truce,” Esperon said.
The military said the fighting erupted when about 80 Abu Sayyaf militants tried to disrupt the construction of a road by soldiers in Tipo-tipo. Army commandos rushed to the scene to defend the engineering unit, sparking a battle.
that forced dozens of local residents to flee their homes and farms.
“If there are 50 to 80 men involved, then, there’s a basis to conclude that there might be other lawless elements involved in the fighting,” Esperon told reporters at the main army base in Manila.
Kabalu denied that any of their fighters were killed.
He said their fighters were ordered to remain in heightened alert and defend themselves against any government offensive. “We don’t want any hostilities, but our fighters are ready to defend themselves,” he said.
It was unknown how the latest fighting would affect the peace talks, which have been stalled since last year over territorial coverage. (With a report by Reuters)
