AFP files ceasefire violation vs MILF

The military leadership in Western Mindanao has lodged a ceasefire violation complaint against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after their fighters allegedly provided support to Abu Sayyaf members who engaged in a firefight with government troops last Tuesday in Basilan.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Maj. Gen. Nelson Allaga said the military complaint has been forwarded to the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).

The CCCH is a joint GRP-MILF body tasked to resolve complaints that may undermine the ongoing peace talks between the two groups.

“We relayed the troop movement to the monitoring team so the MILF would know. But despite this, they moved out of Ginanta to reinforce the Abu Sayyaf,” Allaga said.

This serious violation prompted the filing of the complaint against the secessionist group, Allaga said.

Asked when the complaint was filed, Allaga said it was done last Thursday.

Last Friday, the MILF announced that they too have filed a complaint against the AFP before the CCCH.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu earlier said the soldiers were the ones who attacked the MILF rebels based on the report of the local monitoring team that investigated the incident.

Kabalu also denied that their elements fought alongside Abu Sayyaf members.

It has been agreed that MILF fighters based in Basilan should only confine themselves within the Ginanta area to avoid misencounters with government troops hunting down the Abu Sayyaf in the province.

On Tuesday morning, however, while elements of the Special Forces were engaged in a firefight with about 10 Abu Sayyaf in Silangkom complex, Sitio Kuraleng located on the boundary of Tipo-Tipo and Ungkaya Pukan, MILF fighters reportedly moved out of  Barangay Ginanta and  reinforced the bandits.

This triggered heavy fighting in the afternoon that claimed the lives of a Scout Ranger and a Special Forces soldier. Eight government troops were also wounded.

At least 10 MILF as well as Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in the fighting, the military said.

 “We were targeting the Abu Sayyaf in a place which is about two to three kilometers from their (MILF) place. In the morning it was the Abu Sayyaf led by Furuji Indama we were fighting. But in the afternoon, the MILF reinforced the Abu Sayyaf,” Allaga said.

“They (MILF) are providing support (to the Abu Sayyaf),” Allaga said as he challenged the MILF to disown the Abu Sayyaf if the secessionist group is really sincere in its commitment to the peace process.