Military verifying Abus’ links with MILF, NPA

Military intelligence is verifying reports that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has struck an alliance with the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Abu Sayyaf.

Col. Ernesto Boac, commander of the Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade, said troops fighting the MILF in Sultan Gumander town in Lanao del Sur might also be targeting communist rebels and terrorists.

"We have yet to ascertain such report that there are NPAs inside the MILF camp aside from members of the Abu Sayyaf," he said.

Intelligence reports indicated that Tagalog- and Visayan-speaking fighters were part of the 600 MILF guerrillas defending the rebel camp in Mt. Palao in Sultan Gumander, he added.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the secessionist rebels have forged a "tactical alliance" with the NPA, but not with the Abu Sayyaf.

"We admit that we have a tactical alliance with the CPP-NPA but never with the Abu Sayyaf," he said in a telephone interview.

Nearly 500 people fled their homes in Sultan Gumander the other day for the neighboring town of Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte to escape the military offensive against the MILF, said Senior Superintendent Laut Sarip, Lanao del Norte police director.

Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo said at least eight families left Nunungan town for a safer place after hearing loud explosions from Army cannons pounding MILF positions.

Dimaporo said she has ordered mayors and barangay officials and residents to report to the military or police any suspicious-looking people in their towns and barangays

"We are worried that the rebels will move to this province and jeopardize the efforts we have made on the peace and order situation to prepare Lanao del Norte for the coming sports events like the Palarong Pambata in December this year and the Palarong Pambansa in 2003," she said.

Dimaporo said she has asked the military to beef up its forces in Lanao del Norte in case of any intrusion by the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf.

Intelligence reports said on Aug. 14 last year, 12 MILF and 12 NPA guerrillas from the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga underwent a one-month training on explosives and ordnance disposal in Nosa-Nosa island in Balindong town in Lanao del Sur.

Al Haj Ibrahim Murad, MILF military affairs chief, was said to have approved a request of the Communist Party of the Philippines Mindanao Commission for NPA guerrillas to take part.

Intelligence reports said training participants were not allowed to "graduate" unless they have exploded bombs in designated targets, particularly in the cities of Iligan, Davao, General Santos, and Cagayan de Oro.

NPA trainees were said to have detonated the bombs, while their MILF comrades served as back up.

In the test missions, MILF and NPA trainees would be deployed in the cities of Marawi, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay, Valencia, Ozamiz and Butuan to sabotage power transmission lines of the National Power Corporation, particularly the 138 KVA Abaga-Kibawe power grid at the boundary of Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon.

They would also bomb shopping malls in Iligan, Ozamiz and Cagayan de Oro Cities; bus terminals in Butuan, Bukidnon and Valencia cities; gasoline stations in Malaybalay City; and government and private communications facilities in Misamis Oriental. – Bong Fabe, Lino dela Cruz