Soldiers overrun Rambo’s lair

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — Soldiers overran after a three-hour firefight yesterday a well-fortified lair of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels tagged as behind the Dec. 24 bombing in Datu Piang town that left the town’s mayor, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, and 17 others dead.

Col. Agustin Dema-ala, commander of the Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade, said the MILF’s Commander Rambo and his 50 men abandoned their enclave in Barangay Te, a known haven of lawless elements in Datu Piang.

"The capture of their base was enough confirmation that MILF forces around Datu Piang have, indeed, been setting up new camps despite the truce with the government that restrains the MILF from embarking on such military build-ups," Dema-ala said.

Dema-ala said the MILF camp was surrounded with at least 25 overhead bunkers connected by firing trenches.

He said the skirmishes in Barangay Te erupted when the MILF rebels opened fire at advancing soldiers. Four rebels were killed in the firefight.

He said the MILF cannot accuse them of violating the ceasefire since their tactical maneuvers were "calibrated police actions" and that Rambo’s group provoked yesterday’s hostilities.