1 dead, 3 wounded in Lamitan attack

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  --- Air Force Mg-520 attack helicopters fired more than a dozen rockets on followers of Nur Misuari who simultaneously attacked four villages in Lamitan City in the island province of Basilan Thursday morning, local officials said.

A villager was killed while three soldiers were wounded when  the Moro National Liberation Front’s now renegade “Misuari group” approached the Colonia-Burgos area in Lamitan City and fired assault rifles, rocket propelled grenades and shoulder-fire 40 MM projectiles at houses. The wounded soldiers are Pfc Ruel Martinez, Pfc Wilvan Caro, and Army Master Sgt. Ernesto Landagura.

The vice-mayor of Lamitan City, Roderick Furigay, told The Star via mobile phone that barangay officials have initially reported that the slain villager was trapped in the crossfire when armed residents, soldiers and policemen engaged the approaching gunmen.

“It was just fortunate we have imposed security measures meant to prevent them from getting through the center of Lamitan right after the hostilities in Zamboanga City brokeout,” Furigay said.

Lamitan City is the provincial capital of Basilan, one of the five provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The city police and the inter-agency city peace and order council have been verifying reports by barangay official that five Colonia residents have gone missing, believed taken hostage by MNLF forces.

Furigay, who is the presiding chairman of the city peace and order council, said policemen and soldiers have been fielded in their seaport and around cell sites of telecommunication companies to prevent MNLF renegades from closing in.

Army combatants, backed by operatives of the elite Special Action Force from the ARMM police, and local members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Units, have been trying to push the attackers away from Colonia since past 9 a.m. Thursday.

Furigay said barangay folks and displaced villagers who were forced to relocate to safer areas reported having seen three groups of MNLF renegades in different sites in Colonia, one attacking villages, while the two others just standing down, as if positioned to block soldiers and policeman that might come from the thoroughfares connecting the area to the city proper.  

Related story: MNLF rebels attack Lamitan