'4 men killed in Army clash could be MNLF members'

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  – The Moro National Liberation Front yesterday called for an investigation into allegations that the four men killed in an encounter with Army Scout Rangers last Sunday in Basilan were MNLF members and not Abu Sayyaf bandits.

“We in the MNLF, for the record, always adhere to the provisions of our Sept. 2, 1996 final peace accord with the government. The MNLF can never be hostile to the Armed Forces. We just want clarifications,” Cotabato City Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema, MNLF chairman, said in an e-mailed statement.

MNLF members in Basilan identified their slain comrades as Hadji Munib Kapeng, Jumairal Bairullah, Totong Biha and Binyamin Tahoto, who were killed in a firefight with members of the 12th Scout Ranger Company in Barangay Etub-Etub, a known MNLF stronghold in Sumisip town.

Sema said MNLF leaders in Basilan are willing to cooperate if concerned government agencies will conduct an investigation into the incident.

Sema expressed concern that the incident will affect the ongoing review of the government-MNLF peace accord.

The review of the peace pact, which involves the MNLF, representatives of the Aquino administration and the Organization of Islamic Conference, is aimed at addressing perceived weaknesses in some of its provisions.

Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, Western Mindanao Command spokesman, had said the clash erupted when the Scout Rangers encountered around 20 bandits led by Abdulbaki Ismanul alias Commander Sahili and Nurrodin Madalam alias Commander Not.

Cabangbang said the troops recovered the remains of three unidentified slain followers of Ismanul and Madalam and two high-powered firearms that were abandoned by the bandit group.