Wednesday, April 16, 2014

AFP chief: MILF rebels involved in Basilan clash


by Elena L. Aben
http://www.mb.com.ph/afp-chief-milf-rebels-involved-in-basilan-clash/

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel on Tuesday confirmed there were Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters who were involved in Friday’s day-long gun battle between soldiers and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.

Bautista, however, stressed those who got involved in the firefight acted on their own and not as members of the MILF. The MILF signed a Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) with the government of the Philippines (GPH) last month.

He added the MILF fighters got involved because they were relatives of some of the ASG gunmen targeted by the military operation.

“Not the MILF per se because we are in touch with the MILF . . . there were individuals (who acted) in their personal capacity because they are relatives (of some of the the Abu Sayyaf members),” said the AFP chief.

Bautista further said there were only a few MILF fighters who joined the ASG during the encounter. He called on the MILF leadership to deal with their members who were involved in the clash.

“The MILF should deal with them,” the AFP chief said.

Day-long gun battle between government and security forces and the ASG occurred Friday at the boundary of the Ungkaya Pukan and Tipo-Tipo towns in Basilan.

The firefight, which left 18 ASG gunmen and two Army troopers dead, erupted around 2:25 a.m. when soldiers engaged a group of about 60 ASG fighters at Sitio Pansul, Barangay Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo. At least 31 soldiers were also wounded.

Elements of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion (3SRB), Joint Special Operations Unit 2 (JSOU2), and 18th Infantry Battalion were pursuing ASG field commander Puruji Indama when they encountered the Al Qaeda-linked Islamic militants.

The assault was launched in response to reports that Indama’s group threatened and demanded P5 million from the contractor of the ongoing Magkawa-Al Barka Road project in the province.

Meanwhile, the Wesmincom said belated reports received from the ground units disclosed that the ASG deliberately targeted a responding military field ambulance during last Friday’s encounter.

The driver of ambulance, Sgt. Rolando C. Noble, was wounded in the attack.

Noble’s team was supposed to provide medical assistance and retrieve wounded personnel when the ASG attack on them.

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