MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have traded accusations on alleged ceasefire violations after a reported mortar attack in Maguindanao Thursday night.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said in a phone interview that the military fired mortar shells as an offshoot of a feud between two warring clans in the area, injuring at least nine civilians in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
“The military was the one who fired mortar shells and not the MILF. There was a firefight between a certain Tata and Diang,” he said.
Kabalu said Tata, a former barangay captain of Damabalas, Datu Piang, had an axe to grind against Diang, who is a commander of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU).
At least seven civilians were wounded, including children five to 10 years old, Kabalu said.
Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Sealana, head of the GRP monitoring committee on the cessation of hostilities, said it was the MILF who first violated the ceasefire after their forces harassed a detachment in Sarangani in South Cotabato last July 28.
Sealana said the MILF claimed their forces that attacked the detachment had not yet been informed of the suspension of offensives when the incident happened.
He said they are investigating fresh reports in order to come up with measures that would prevent both sides from conducting offensive actions and pave the way for the resumption of peace talks.