Seven slain as Muslim rebels attack army outpost in Lanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Seven people were killed after 100 heavily armed Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels attacked an Army detachment in Tagoloan town, Lanao del Norte, the military said yesterday even as it maintained the situation was "under control."

Despite the latest skirmishes, the government will push through with the fourth round of peace talks with the MILF on May 2.

Southern Command (Southcom) chief Maj. Gen. Diomedio Villanueva said five civilians, a government militiaman and an MILF rebel were slain in the Tagoloan raid early Saturday.

The rebels also took eight civilians and used them as human shields while retreating from heavy military artillery. Six were later freed as a running gunbattle ensued.

Villanueva identified the civilians killed in the crossfire as Suling Bargia, Dono Depareng, Eduardo Ilaguso, Joel Malihan and Mesio Madrid, all residents of Sitio Lambak in Tagoloan.

The slain militiaman, a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), was identified as Epifanio Anugutan. The lone MILF fatality was identified as Alih Mangayo.

Two other CAFGUs, identified as Francisco Abayan and Rene Lauma, were wounded during the fighting.

Villanueva said the rebels were led by Abdul Racman Romaro, alias Commander Mercy; Omar Inok; Mortir Magdag; and a certain Commander Kulafu.

The military was not able to immediately respond to the Tagoloan attack as its offensive was concentrated on flushing out remaining rebels in Kauswagan, a neighboring town retaken Friday night by elite Army soldiers and Marines.

That attack left at least 21 rebels, nine soldiers, three government militiamen and a policeman dead by military count.

President Estrada is set to fly to Kauswagan today to conduct an inspection and to boost the morale of government forces.

The military said the situation in the town was under control, and that residents were "happy over the heavy military presence."

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Angelo Reyes said the MILF rebels who had occupied the Kauswagan town hall were the same ones responsible for the Feb. 25 bombing of two buses on a ferry in Ozamiz City port which killed 25 people.

Reyes said the rebels belonged to the 303rd Brigade of the MILF 3rd Division headed by a certain Commander Bravo.

"I have received reliable reports that they were the ones responsible for the Ozamiz bombing. We will arrest them," the AFP chief said in a radio interview. "We can get additional troops anywhere in Mindanao so everything is under control. They are on the run."

The death toll in Lanao del Norte continued to rise as government forces pounded rebel areas in Kauswagan and adjacent towns.

Reports reaching Southcom yesterday disclosed that close to 100 MILF guerrillas have been killed while 150 others were wounded as the military entered its fourth day of offensives in the province.

Government forces captured a key rebel training base after the MILF abandoned Camp Bilal in Kauswagan.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio told reporters Bilal was the springboard of an MILF attack and takeover of the town hall last Friday. The camp is reportedly being used by the 303rd Brigade, which has been blamed for the Ozamiz bombings.

Teodosio said troops backed by artillery fire from 105mm howitzers penetrated the perimeter of the camp last Sunday.

The military said the attack on the camp was justified since it has vowed "to arrest perpetrators of the bombing incident."

The MILF, which has accused the military of provoking the Lanao clashes amid formal peace talks last month, warned that it would launch an offensive if government does not pull out its forces attacking Camp Bilal.

"This is a very clear violation of the ceasefire," said senior MILF official Ustadz Shariff Julabbi.

MILF officials belied the military's claims of capturing the camp, saying their fighters have warded off the attack and even destroyed two armored personnel carriers.

Press Secretary Rodolfo Reyes said yesterday the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)-MILF peace panel will resume formal peace talks even after the Kauswagan incident.

"In spite of the incidents, the GRP-MILF peace process will be pursued within the framework of the Constitution and within the concept of meaningful autonomy," Reyes said in a news briefing in Malacañang.

He pointed out, however, that the government will continue to uphold its authority, maintaining law and order and protecting civilian populations "through effective military and police action in cases of ceasefire violations or criminal acts."

Reyes said the scheduled meeting on May 2 will proceed and will be held at the Estotan Hotel in Cotabato City.

In a related development, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Panfilo Lacson has ordered the relief of Kauswagan police chief Supt. Sabdullah Ibrahim for allegedly abandoning his post during the takeover of the town by Muslim rebels.

Lacson ordered Western Mindanao regional police director Chief Supt. Dominador Domingo to appoint Senior Inspector Ruperto Salazar as officer-in-charge.

The PNP chief likewise ordered a probe of the incident.

Ibrahim was reported to have fled aboard a pump boat as some 400 rebels stormed and occupied the Lanao town.

However, PNP spokesman Supt. Nicanor Bartolome denied the reports, insisting Ibrahim never abandoned his post.

"He did not abandon the station. In fact, he stayed on until the soldiers arrived," Bartolome said.

At the time of the attack, the Kauswagan police station had only eight police officers, including Ibrahim.

If proven guilty of abandoning his post, Ibrahim could be removed from the police service.

The President may have already lost count of his thousands of godchildren or inaanak, but he is greatly saddened by the loss of a particularly heroic one.

Lt. Alfonso Javier, a graduate of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1995 and an Erap inaanak, died in last week's gunbattle with MILF rebels who stormed the town hall of Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte.

Javier's mother reportedly died of a heart attack after learning of her son's death.

Press Secretary Reyes said the details of the Kauswagan incident were still unavailable.

"Lt. Javier was reportedly killed by sniper fire, but the actual incident is still not clear," Reyes said.

He said the President was really saddened by the report and has asked AFP chief Reyes for the burial details of both mother and son.

Reyes said Javier joined the ranks of the inaanaks when the newly commissioned officer approached then Vice President Estrada after the PMA graduation rites in Baguio in 1995.

"He just approached the Vice President and asked him to be his ninong," the press secretary said.

Mr. Estrada attended the wedding of the young officer, who had in his entourage his fellow PMA graduates. -- With Marichu Villanueva, Alvin Tarroza, Paolo Romero, Perseus Echeminada, John Unson, AFP