Army, MILF trade barbs over hostilities in Buldon

COTABATO CITY — Soldiers and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels have been pounding each other’s position in Buldon, Maguindanao with heavy firepower since Friday.

Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman, said two rebels were killed in the hostilities which, he alleged, erupted when combatants of the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion chanced upon their guerrillas at a forested area in Barangay Minabay, Buldon.

"This is a violation of the ceasefire (agreement) because soldiers intruded into the area of MILF rebels there without prior coordination," Kabalu said.

But Maj. Julieto Ando, 6th ID spokesman, said the soldiers who figured in the sporadic clashes with MILF rebels were merely running after armed lawless elements who were collecting "protection money" from residents of Barangay Minabay.

Village officials have confirmed having asked the military’s help in driving the armed men away.

"Our soldiers there were merely performing peacekeeping work when the armed men opened fire and engaged them in running gunbattles," Ando said.

Ando said elements of the 64th Infantry Battalion have recovered the bodies of four rebels killed in the firefights, two of them adolescents.

Ando said soldiers also found two M-16 rifles, assorted ammunition and communications equipment which the fleeing rebels left.

Kabalu said the 6th ID used MG-520 attack helicopters in driving their forces away.

Local officials said the rebels were responsible for the ambush, early this month, of a team of 64th IB soldiers who were on their way to a peace dialogue in nearby Barira town.

The incident left three soldiers, one of them of a young Army lieutenant, dead, and six others wounded. — John Unson