Troops foil MILF attack; 6 rebels killed

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao - Government troops foiled an attempt by some 200 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas early yesterday to take over an Army detachment and set up a road block along the vital Cotabato-General Santos Highway.

Although outnumbered, troops of the 57th Infantry Battalion manning the roadside detachment in Barangay Bitu in Datu Odin Sinsuat town repulsed the rebels in a fierce gun battle which led to the death of six MILF guerrillas.

Three of the slain rebels were identified as Faisal Abdullah, Ahmed Kader and Sahidula Mantato, who were allegedly involved in cattle-rustling in farming communities at the boundary of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Upi towns.

However, four soldiers — Sergeants Nelson Kisanan and Tiburcio Libres, Corporal Melchor de la Cruz and Pfc. Wari Diocolo — were reported wounded.

The fleeing rebels reportedly left behind several plastic containers filled with kerosene, indicating their intention to burn down some houses along their escape route.

The military also reported here incidents of rebel harassment in several Army detachments in many parts of Central Mindanao over the weekend.

Army Spokesman Maj. Julieto Ando said military units positioned along critical stretches of the Cotabato-General Santos and Cotabato-Davao Highways have intensified their community patrols as part of the effort to prevent the MILF from showing force in the communities along the main roads.

In a related development, police have filed murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against two suspected MILF rebels for the massacre of 14 civilians, including a month-old baby, last Wednesday night in Purok Tubod, Barangay Poblacion in Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte.

The charges were filed against Jappal Lumantao, alias Cabato, and Basser Alindog, before the 6th Municipal Trial Court of Labason-Gutalac-Kalawit in Zamboanga del Norte. The two suspects are now in jail at Dipolog City.

Lumantao and Alindog were among 50 MILF rebels who peppered civilian houses in Purok Tubod with M-60 machine gun fire before setting them afire and seizing three hostages.

Last Friday night, two militiamen were killed while three persons were wounded during an attack by some 50 members of the MILF on a militia outpost in Talitay, Maguindanao. –With Mike Frialde