Army Escort Killed; MILF critic survives slay attempt

COTABATO CITY - A popular critic of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) survived another attempt on his life Monday night in a daring ambush perpetrated by suspected Moro rebels that left his Army escort dead and six others, including him, wounded.

The ambush site is less than 300 meters away from the command post of the 3rd Marine Company, about 700 meters from a police detachment and about two kilometers southwest of Camp Gen. Siongco, the headquarters of the Army's 6th Infantry Division.

The target of the ambush, engineer Zamzamin Ampatuan, was also the subject of the bomb attack on Catholic radio station dxMS early this month. He was slightly wounded in last Monday's ambush and is now recuperating at an undisclosed place.

In Lanao del Norte, meanwhile, the military said government troops crippled the communication system of the MILF following a simultaneous ground and air strike in Baloi town over the weekend.

Maj. Gen. Diomedio Villanueva, chief of the Armed Forces' Southern Command, said two OV-10 Bronco bombers and two MG-520 rocket-firing helicopters pounded the main communication facilities of the MILF on Apo Hill in Baloi.

Ampatuan, a blocktimer at dxMS, has been criticizing the MILF, branding its revolutionary objectives as "hypocrisy" because of its "advocacy of violence to pursue its bid for the creation of a puritan Islamic state."

Superintendent Amerodin Hamdag, city police director, said Ampatuan and his companions were on their way home from the radio station at about 10:30 p.m. Monday when the gunmen, positioned at the right side of the highway in Pagagaw District here, opened fire with M-14, M-16 and M-203 rifles, triggering a firefight.

"Our operatives and the Marines responded immediately and rushed the wounded to the hospital," Hamdag said.

One of Ampatuan's bodyguards, Cpl. Arturo Maraya of the Army's 2nd Special Forces Company, died on the spot, while the rest, Sindatu Ampatuan, Mohammad Lumenda, Simpal Adam and Pfc. Bernalte Desiosa, were wounded.

A bystander, Rocaya Bapataya, was also wounded in the crossfire, Hamdag said.

Muhaquer Icbal, MILF information officer, denied any involvement of their fighters in the ambush, saying "a third party" could have pulled it off to put the MILF in a bad light.

"It's very obvious that he (Ampatuan) speaks for the government so even soldiers could kill him and project that it was the fault of the MILF," Icbal said.

One of the 20 or more suspected MILF rebels who staged the ambush was killed by Ampatuan's group when they returned fire to prevent the gunmen from closing in.

Investigators said a number of the ambushers could have been wounded or even killed as shown by the heavy bloodstains on their escape route.

"I have confirmations from the intelligence community and even from some members of the MILF that the front is responsible for this incident," Ampatuan said.

Ampatuan and North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol, himself known for his iron-fisted policy in dealing with the MILF, had been sentenced to death in absentia by an MILF rebel court for their criticisms of the front's revolutionary activities.

"But this incident will never stop me from continuing with my advocacy to enlighten the people on why no one should support the MILF," said Ampatuan, a scion of an influential Muslim clan.

Ampatuan hosts the nightly Radio Kalimudan, an hour-long program over dxMS, where he has been questioning the MILF's use of violence to further its struggle for the creation of an independent Islamic state.

In the program, Ampatuan espouses Qur'anic teachings, criticizing the MILF's interpretation of jihad (holy war) and the manner by which its Sharia courts administer Islamic jurisprudence.

"What the people in Mindanao needs is a community-based peace process that preserves the unique and traditional identity of the people as part of the Ummah, or the international community," Ampatuan said in his hospital bed.

Meanwhile, reports reaching Southcom in Zamboanga City said Moro rebels suffered heavy casualties during the massive military offensive in Lanao del Norte over the weekend.

The military has pursued the Moro rebels since the MILF occupied the town hall of Kauswagan and other Lanao del Norte villages early this month.

Authorities claimed the number of Moro guerrillas killed in Lanao del Norte has reached 90, 11 of them slain in sporadic clashes last week.