Maguindanao ambush: 8 dead

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao, Philippines – Eight followers of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu were killed by some 50 Muslim rebels in Mangudadatu town in this province yesterday.

Maj. Marlowe Patria, civil-military relations officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the victims were to inspect a road project in Barangay Tenuk in Mangudadatu town at 3 p.m. when the gunmen, positioned on one side of the road, opened fire with assault rifles and B-40 anti-tank rockets.

Soldiers and police are pursuing the rebels.

On Nov. 23, 2009, 58 people, including Mangudadatu’s wife and sisters as well as several journalists were killed in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao.

Nearly 200 suspects, including Andal Ampatuan Jr., his father Andal Sr. and other members of the clan, have been charged with murder for the massacre.

Mangudadatu said a group led by Tauting Salendab of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was responsible for yesterday’s attack on the supporters of Mayors Ibrahim, Freddie and Zajid Mangudadatu. The victims were led by village chief Kumaken Gandalibo. 

Salendab and his followers are locked in a two-decade-old “rido” or clan war with the Mangudadatus, apparently over control of strategic tracts of land in three adjoining Maguindanao towns – Buluan, Mangudadatu and Pandag –which are controlled politically by the governor’s family.

Col. Prudencio Asto, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Division, confirmed that the violence stemmed from a clash between MILF troops led by Salendab and supporters of the Mangudadatus.

Asto, however, did not confirm in his text message the claim of Governor Mangudadatu that eight people, five of them his relatives, were slain in the ambush.

“Firefight still ongoing as of this report,” Asto said.

He said they have deployed their intelligence operatives to monitor the situation in the area.

“Intelligence operatives of 33rd infantry battalion were tasked to monitor the activities and plans of warring groups,” Asto said.

But in an interview with ABS-CBN News, MILF military spokesman Eid Kabalu denied that the group was behind the incident.

He added that Salendab had no knowledge of the ambush.

Ceasefire violations

Meantime, Patria said the commander of the 6th ID, Maj. Gen. Anthony Alcantara will request the government’s ceasefire committee to look into the governor’s allegation.

Patria said military maneuvers meant to prevent escalation of hostilities in the area shall be initiated in close coordination with the government and the MILF’s joint ceasefire committee. – With Alexis Romero