Lanao vigilantes girding for MILF attacks

MAIGO, Lanao del Norte — Vigilante groups in this province have begun to emerge to defend their towns from possible "experimental" bombings by new recruits of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

This, after Maigo Mayor Rafael Rizalda reportedly received a note warning of retaliatory attacks next week.

Rizalda said a Muslim emissary handed him the note saying the rebels will avenge the deaths of the younger brothers of Commanders Minsupala and Macaslang during an MILF attack on the town and that of an alleged local drug lord known only as "Commander Tigre."

"Mag-ingat ka, mag resbak sila, if Allah permits (Be careful. They will retaliate if Allah permits)," Rizalda quoted the handwritten note as saying.

Rizalda said paramilitary groups have come out in the open and are now arming themselves for possible MILF attacks.

He said a new group, calling itself the "Shepherds," is now pursuing rebels believed to have stolen carabaos, cows and other farm animals.

The Ilagas and another vigilante group from Ozamiz City have also joined the fray.

The pursuit has resulted in a clash in Barangay Sigayan here, near the boundary with Tangkal town, that left three rebels dead and a number of civilians injured, Rizalda said, quoting police records.

So far, the vigilantes have recovered 16 of 49 carabaos stolen, according to SPO3 Alfredo Adrales, Maigo police chief.

Rizalda attributed the re-emergence of vigilante groups to past atrocities of the MILF and other armed groups in the province.

He recalled that in 1991, a family of seven, including a one-year-old child, was massacred in Kolambugan town.

The child’s mother, who survived the attack, was allegedly raped by the rebels, Rizalda said.

Two weeks ago, about 100 suspected MILF rebels under Commander Macaslang attacked Barangay Sigayan, killing Danilo Osing, the barangay chairman, and wounding several civilians.

"These (vigilante) groups will not emerge or reactivate had the rebels not threatened us by putting up camps in the hinterlands and committing atrocities," Rizalda said.

However, Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo expressed fear that vendetta killings might lead to full-blown hostilities between Christians and Muslims, reminiscent of the Ilaga-Barracuda conflict in the 1970s.

Dimaporo urged Rizalda and Mayors Joselito Miquiabas and Dante Mutia, of Bacolod and Tangkal towns, respectively, to hold dialogues with their respective constituents and settle the problem of rampant cattle and carabao rustling.

The town mayors, however, said that unless the notorious former rebel and bandit identified only as "Ba-as" is killed or captured by the police, cattle and carabao rustling will continue.