Blast rocks Sarangani market

MANILA, Philippines – An explosion tore through a public market in Kiamba town in Sarangani province yesterday noon.

Maj. Edgardo de Leon of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion said the explosion occurred at 12:30 p.m. at the public market near the town plaza.

De Leon said no one was hurt during the blast that occurred when market vendors had already closed shop after a half-day.

The bomb attack was staged after the military overran a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camp in Maasim town of the province that also left 20 rebels killed in the clashes with government troops.

De Leon suspected the MILF carried out the bombing of the market to divert military operations against the rebels in the province.

“Most likely this is a diversionary tactic, probably of the lawless MILF. They have been threatening that they would attack this town but they did it in Maasim,” he said.

The military said MILF forces are massing up within striking distance in several Army detachments in Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte.

Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said the MILF have split into smaller groups by testing the defenses of Army detachments located in remote barangays of the three provinces.

Aleosan Mayor Loreto Cabaya said three MILF rebels were killed by government troops in the attempt to run over a military detachment in Barangay Poypoyon located at the boundary of town and Pikit in neighboring North Cotabato.

Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the rebels attacked with B-40-anti-tank rockets and assault rifles, triggering an hour-long gun battle that ended after the rebels withdrew with their dead and wounded comrades.

Ando said the attackers belonged to the MILF’s 105th Base Command under Ameril Umbra Kato, who now carries a P10-million bounty for his capture.

“It’s difficult to deal with this group because its leaders and members do not respect their central committee and their very own CCCH (Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities),” Ando said.

Sporadic clashes have also been reported to have occurred over the weekend in secluded areas in Maguindanao’s adjoining Shariff Aguak, Mamasapano and Datu Piang towns.

Torres added the rebels were getting desperate by splitting into smaller groups to avoid detection while at the same time, launching guerrilla attacks against remote military outposts.

“So we are seeing the shift into such kinds of action by the ones we are running after, the harassment on our patrolling troops and our temporary patrol bases,” he said.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano accused the MILF of playing dirty by taking civilians and using them as human shields during encounters with government troops.

Yano claimed this was evident during the encounter in Datu Piang last week where six civilians were killed.

“I think we should tell that to the MILF because they are the ones, as it would appear, they are the ones bringing along human shields so while we, in government side, we have rules of engagement that we have to strictly follow,” he said.

The MILF accused the Army of attacking its fighters as they prayed in a mosque, a claim denied by the military.

The military said Army troops succeeded in assaulting the MILF camp in the area that was defended by over 100 rebels.

The provincial police also belied reports that troops attacked a mosque, saying it was a very remote area.

Police said among those killed in the encounter in Sarangani last Friday was Nasser Benito, who was charged for the attack in Maasim town hall and police precinct last month.

Maasim Police chief Inspector Joefel Remudaro said Benito acted as guide to the MILF rebels who laid siege in the town hall and police station.  - With John Unson, Cecille Suerte Felipe