ZAMBOANGA CITY - Moro separatist rebels struck again last Sunday, ambushing the chief of an Army battalion and wounding at least three soldiers in separate attacks, as fighting spread to several villages in Carmen, North Cotabato, the military said.
Reinforcements engaged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in an hour-long gunbattle before forcing them to retreat, the military said.
The latest round of clashes brought to 10 the number of rebels killed since last month. At least 11 soldiers have been wounded.
Brig. Gen. Alberto Braganza, vice commander of the Armed Forces' Southern Command, said two soldiers, S/Sgt. Eugenio Lumacto Jr. and Cpl. Juanito Samolde, both belonging to the 39th Infantry Battalion, were wounded when the Moro rebels stormed their detachment in Barangay Tacupan, Carmen town at about 4:10 a.m. Sunday.
Minutes later, Braganza said more than 50 MILF rebels ambushed the commanding officer of the 64th Infantry Battalion and his escort.
The 64th IB head, whose name was not immediately available, escaped unhurt, while his aide, Cpl. Remy Malifero, was wounded.
Fighting in several villages in Carmen has not let up as MILF rebels continued to harass patrolling troops and civilians, according to Maj. Gen. Gregorio Camiling, chief of the Army's 6th Infantry Division based in Cotabato.
Government forces, backed by helicopter gunships and armored tanks, have taken control of several communities earlier occupied by MILF combatants.
In another development, military intelligence agents captured a leader and three members of the MILF in Zamboanga City and Lanao del Sur over the weekend.
Maj. Salih Indanan, spokesman of the military's Southern Command, said Ispital Hadji Musa, a battalion leader of the MILF's Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces based in Tuburan, Basilan, was nabbed at the Zamboanga City wharf while trying to sneak out of the city. Musa has a murder case.
Three hours later, elements of the 58th Infantry Battalion raided an MILF safehouse in Barangay Anuma, Calanugas, Lanao del Sur, and captured rebels Sadji Mohammad Dealam, Guilla Somerado and Sairoden Soperado, all linked to highway robberies.
Seized from them were two M-16 Armalite rifles, a Carbine, a handheld radio and 16 magazines loaded with ammunition.
The MILF is the largest remaining Muslim insurgent group in the South fighting for an independent Islamic state. It opened formal peace talks with the government last month and the second round of negotiations is slated later this month.