Army vows to run after MILF rebels behind North Cotabato attacks

MANILA, Philippines – Troops will hunt down suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels that attacked soldiers on patrol in Midsayap, Cotabato province last Sunday.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado said yesterday the military will not allow soldiers to be “sitting ducks” in Mindanao.

“We will conduct combat operations against these groups,” he said. “We will do some preventive actions and use the appropriate amount of force if necessary. We will not wait for them to shoot at us.”

However, Ibrado said troops would continue to uphold the primacy of the peace talks between the government and the MILF.

Ibrado said the military remains on active defense stance against MILF rebels that are trying to stop the government from holding elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa, Philippine National Police deputy chief for administration, said 500 Special Action Force troops will be sent to the Davao region today to repel marauding MILF and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

“Police have recorded at least 130 attacks in different establishments and installations in Davao Region,” he said. “Most of the attacks were carried out by the NPA.”

Verzosa will lead today’s send-off ceremony for the SAF members at their headquarters in Bicutan, Taguig.

Chief Inspector Querubin Manalang, Davao Region police spokesman, said the statistics indicated that rebels and bandits conducted at least 20 attacks each month during the first half of the year.

“Lately, the attacks have become frequent, thus prompting the PNP leadership to deploy SAF to the area,” he said.

The latest attack was on Aug. 1, at Barangay Mandog, Buhangin District in Davao City, police said.

‘MILF to seize children’

In Cotabato province, tension remains high in the towns of Aleosan, Midsayap and Libungan after teachers received information that MILF guerillas will seize school children.

Based on that information, several elementary schools in Midsayap dismissed classes early yesterday.

The first to send school children home was the Midsayap Central Elementary School at the town center.

In Malaysia, Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said yesterday his country will maintain at least 12 peacekeepers in Mindanao after the Philippines told Malaysia that its “cooperation and services are continually needed.”– With Cecille Suerte Felipe, John Unson, AP