Son of MILF leader allegedly killed in encounter
ALEOSAN,
Serapio, commander of the joint police-military Task Force Palma, said they are still verifying reports that Kato’s son was killed in a clash with Army Scout Rangers.
“We received reports that his (Kato) son was mortally wounded in an encounter with our Rangers in one of the three barangays here. We are still validating this report from our assets within the MILF,” he said.
Reports reaching the task force said the still unidentified Kato’s son was killed during the encounter with the Scout Rangers who took part in the government’s effort to drive out the MILF rebels occupying several villages in four towns of
Kato, commander of the MILF’s 105th Base Command, reportedly wanted to avenge the death of his son by ordering his men to set up a line of defense to the banks of the river boundary of
The rebels were forced to pull out after their positions were constantly battered by artillery and aerial bombardment.
About 800 rebels led by Kato occupied nine villages of the towns of Pigkawayan, Aleosan, Midsayap and Alamada (
The government on Sunday told the MILF to order Kato and his men to pull out from the villages within 24 hours or face a possible military offensive.
But Kato and his men defied the order and held to their positions until they were forced to retreat by the military assault that began Monday.
Even as they were forced out of the villages, there are intelligence reports indicating Kato is repositioning his men in preparation for another attack and occupation of the towns of Matalam, M’lang and Kabacan in the province.
An Army battalion was pulled out of here yesterday and deployed to secure the three towns.
Col. Alejandro Estomo, commander of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade, ordered Lt. Col. Manny Siquitin, 66th Infantry Battalion commander, to reposition his battalion in the three towns.
Estomo said there are intelligence reports indicating the MILF rebels have already massed up in the outskirts of the three towns.
Estomo is now directly taking orders from Serapio, Task Force Palma commander who is personally overseeing the entire operation to completely drive away the MILF rebels from
With seven Army battalions at his disposal, Serapio said he intends to seal off major MILF routes from Liguasan Marsh in neighboring Maguindanao.
The deployment of troops in the towns also came after security forces foiled a bombing attempt at a market in M’lang on Thursday.
Another plot to bomb M’lang was foiled yesterday after government troops discovered and disarmed another bomb planted at a school in
Authorities took into custody a suspect who was also wounded in the premature bomb explosion in M’lang last Thursday.
Norodin Alilaya was taken into custody to determine his supposed affiliation with the MILF.
Police went on high alert as authorities also ordered a suspension of classes in the province.
Volatile situation
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Alexander Yano stressed the possibility that Kato might regroup and launch an attack elsewhere in
“The pullout of the 105th Base Command could be a ploy to buy time, assess its capability and reconstitute its forces to launch similar atrocities in other areas of central
“Amid this complex situation, the AFP remains prepared to confront the threat head on and at the same time is committed to follow the path of peace,” he said.
Yano said Kato and his group might attempt to launch retaliatory attacks following their disgraceful retreat from
Yano said troops would remain in the freed communities as long as necessary, to ensure that the rebels would not come back.
“They will be there in the communities as long as necessary. We have that commitment to the residents of the area, that our troops will be there to protect this community,” he said.
Yano stressed the situation in the area and some other parts of
Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman Maj. Armand Rico said troops have already cleared the formerly occupied villages of landmines and booby traps to allow the return of residents to their communities.
Rico said they would also keep troops in place to secure the areas from counterattacks.
Serapio added that there have been intelligence reports of MILF buildup where the rebels are “importing” guerrillas from outside central
“They’re continuously massing up their forces and we are closely watching their next move. In fact, MILF commanders are now having a meeting in Maguindanao,” Serapio revealed but declined to elaborate.
He said the rebels fired mortar rounds in Barangay Dunguan here, targeting the forward positions of the Army and the police in the area yesterday morning.
Dunguan was one of the barangays previously occupied by the rebels.
Intelligence reports also warned that some 300 new MILF fighters have been massing at Barangay Palong in Pikit town, with another 100 fully armed rebels deployed in M’lang.
Seven Army battalions and two PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) battalions are deployed in
Other units are strategically pre-positioned on major roads to secure motorists along the stretch of the Cotabato-Davao-Sarrangani highway.
While the Army and the police may have enough forces in
MILF rebels belonging to the 10th Base Command based in Sultan Kudarat headed by a certain Commander Boyet are still occupying Sitio Masagana, Barangay Sanghay, of Kalamansig town, which they attacked and occupied the other day.
The rebels also killed a militiaman identified as Jimuel Bachiller. Three other militiamen were wounded in the fighting.
Serapio said the fighting in Sultan Kudarat between the MILF and paramilitary forces was triggered by a land dispute. – With James Mananghaya, John Unson
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