Army girds for MILF raids in Lanao Norte, Bukidnon

The Army has deployed forces at the boundary of Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon to prevent rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels under fugitive commander Aleem Sulaiman alias Commander Pangalian from launching attacks.

This developed as no bail was recommended for an MILF commander, Macaslang Angne alias “Kumander Mercury,” who was captured in a hospital in Baroy, Lanao del Norte where he sought treatment for injuries he suffered in a clash with Army troopers last week.  

Maj. Michele Anayron, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro City, said they have deployed more than a hundred men in the towns of Wao and Bumbaran in Lanao del Norte, near the boundary with Bukidnon.

“There was a reported presence of MILF rebels under Commander Pangalian in these areas so as a preemptive measure, we are beefing up and redeploying our forces there,” he said.

Pangalian carries a P10-million bounty for leading attacks in Sarangani province two months ago.

“We do not want to take chances here. We do not want to be caught flat-footed, so when there are reports, we react so that we would not be caught by surprise,” Anayron said.

Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command, said they have been getting persistent intelligence reports for two months now on a supposed MILF plan to attack Wao and Bumbaran towns.

These reports, according to Cabangbang, prompted the deployment of additional forces in the area to prevent a repeat of MILF attacks on villages in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte last August.

Cabangbang said the military is also closely guarding highly urbanized areas such as Cagayan de Oro City from MILF attacks.

Separatist rebels are believed responsible for a series of bomb attacks in key areas in Central Mindanao in the past few days, although some of these were foiled.

The bombings were apparently meant to divert the attention of government troops pursuing Pangalian and fellow rogue MILF commanders Ameril Ombra Kato and Abdurahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo, and their followers.

The government has offered a bounty of P10 million each for the arrest of Kato and Macapaar.

Meanwhile, Judge Allan Flores of Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte had issued an arrest warrant for Angne for various criminal offenses ranging from double murder, murder, attempted murder, arson and robbery in band to serious illegal detention and cattle rustling.

Superintendent Mangarun Angod, Lanao del Norte police director, said Angne was one of the most wanted criminals in the province.

Last August, Angne sent an extortion letter to the National Food Authority office in Iligan City, demanding at least P100,000 a month.

Last week, Angne was wounded when his group clashed with government troops in Madalum, Lanao del Sur, prompting him to seek refuge in Munai, Lanao del Norte where his wife resides, to seek medical treatment.

With the help of local officials, Angne was brought to a government hospital in Baroy town where police served his arrest warrant, Angod said.

In another development, former Marawi City mayor Omar Solitario Ali said Moro National Liberation Front members in his area rejected Sen. Mar Roxas’ draft bill on the Mindanao Land Conflict Settlement Commission.

The bill has gotten the support of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of North Cotabato and Reps. Emmylou Mendoza and Bernardo Piñol Jr. of the first and second districts of North Cotabato, respectively.

Ali said he believes the national government and MNLF chairman Nur Misuari must instead follow and fully implement the 1996 peace pact, which does not violate any provision of the Philippine Constitution.

The 1996 peace accord was signed during the administration of former President Fidel Ramos, paving the way for the creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. – With Lino de la Cruz