MILF clash in Lanao won’t affect peace talks — PNP

Despite Wednesday’s killing of eight people by rebels in Lanao del Sur, the Philippine National Police (PNP) believes peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would go on.

Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, PNP spokesman, said the clash between Army troops and MILF rebels in Tubaran town was an "unavoidable" incident.

"As far as the ongoing peace talks are concerned, we believe that it will proceed," he said. "These are incidents which are unavoidable."

However, Bataoil said the PNP will file a complaint with the government negotiating panel so that the matter could be brought to the attention of the MILF.

"Indeed these are talking points which we can present to the panel," he said. "There is observance of certain procedures we agreed to be followed, particularly in the movement of armed elements in urban centers."

Bataoil said the rebels could have attacked and burned homes in Tubaran to avenge the death of MILF commander Hadji Said Cali and three other rebels, whom police had killed in an encounter.

"Our policemen led by the chief of police of Tubaran prevented this group from entering the poblacion," he said.

Bataoil said the PNP and Armed Forces are bracing for more attacks from the MILF as an offshoot of Wednesday’s encounter in Tubaran.

"The PNP and AFP are prepared, they are aware of these threats," he said. "Our PNP chief has been calling for police cooperation and help authorities (in the campaign against the rebels)."

Troops from the Army’s 29th Infantry Battalion and the regional and provincial police mobile groups have been deployed to reinforce the Tubaran police force, Bataoil added.

PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said suspected MILF guerrillas strafed homes in Tubaran with M-16 and M-14 rifles and killed eight people.

An undetermined number of MILF guerrillas were believed wounded in ensuing firefights between policemen, said Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol.

"It was an act of retribution," he said.

Also on Wednesday, around 20 MILF rebels attacked troops on patrol in Maguindanao province, military spokesman Maj. Julieto Ando said. – With Lino dela Cruz