13 killed as gov’t troops, MILF clash

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — An Army lieutenant, two soldiers and 10 Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels were killed while nine others were wounded in fierce gun battles between the MILF and government troops in the Lanao provinces.

Maj. Gen. Crisolito Balaoing of the 4th Infantry "Diamond" Division said three soldiers of the 9th Infantry Battalion were killed in a clash with MILF rebels, who fired rocket-propelled grenades at the soldiers ascending Mt. Gurain on its Munai-Piagapo side in Lanao del Sur at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The names of the fatalities were withheld pending the notification of their families.

"The Rangers were able to withstand the MILF fighters’ volley of fire and killed four of the rebels, whose bodies were carted away by their companions," Balaoing said.

The soldiers were trying to scale Mt. Gurain, where MILF commander Yahya Lucsadatu and his men were believed to be hiding.

Balaoing also reported that Scout Rangers killed at least six rebels in an encounter in Barangay Liningding, Munai, Lanao del Norte Saturday.

Balaoing lambasted MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu for trying to discredit the military with propaganda and lies. Kabalu earlier said military bombs destroyed at least 28 houses in Barangay Liningding last Thursday.

"The MILF is only trying to agitate the civilians, especially the owners of the houses, (so these civilians) will fight the military," Balaoing said.

He said the MILF is resorting to propaganda "because what is happening on the ground is that the MILF is losing its mass bases," and, thus, must "come out with false reports that would agitate civilians."

In Zamboanga City, Kabalu said the MILF will maintain its unilateral ceasefire despite last week’s intense, two-day air and ground bombardment on its camp in Munai.

Kabalu said Monday that the military dropped 16 bombs from four OV-10 bomber planes and shelled the villages of Liningding, Tamporong and Pindolunan with 72 rounds from 105-mm. howitzers.

He said the bombardment began at 2 p.m. and ended at 4 p.m. Thursday. The airstrike was later canceled due to heavy fog, Kabalu added. "There was poor visibility, so the military halted their aerial attack," he said.

He described the bombardment as "a two-day, intense air and ground bombardment," adding that the "military thought they have already pulverized our forces."

Kabalu said the MILF does not want to dispute military reports of government fatalities, adding that "what is important is that we are 100 percent in compliance with the (unilateral) ceasefire. The suspension of military actions is holding despite the intense bombardment."

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) information officer Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero said the offensive against MILF rebels giving sanctuary to terrorists will continue.

"They (MILF) are not serious (about talking peace). They have not surrendered those responsible in the Munai massacre," he said.

The 12,500-strong MILF has been fighting since 1978 to set up a separate Islamic state in Mindanao. — With Roel Pareño