5 Marines killed in clash with MNLF; Malik wounded?

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Five Marines and an undetermined number of rogue Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels were killed in six hours of fierce fighting in Sulu yesterday.

Six other Marines were wounded in the encounter that started shortly after 5 a.m. in Mt. Pukan, Kalinggalang in Kaluang town.

The fighting later spread to Barangays Pangdan-Pangdan and Kambing and lasted until 11 a.m.

The military said rogue MNLF commander Habier Malik was reportedly wounded in the fighting, but the military has yet to confirm that information, according to Brig. Gen. Ruperto Pabustan, Joint Special Operations Group commander.

“We are verifying reports that Malik was among the rebel casualties where three of the rebels were killed by the operating Marines,” he said.

Hundreds of civilians have fled to nearby Barangay Karundong, according to Presidential Assistant for Sulu Amilbahar Amilahasan.

Reports reaching his office said six high-powered guns of the Marines were taken by the MNLF during the fighting, he added.

Pabustan said troops from the 2nd Marine Brigade under Col. Cesario Atienza tracked down the forces of Malik following information from civilians that the rebels had massed up at the mountain lair.

Army Scout Rangers will be sent to run after the rogue MNLF forces under Malik, he added.

Malik is facing a string of warrants of arrest for murder and frustrated murder after leading attacks against military camps in Barangay Seit in Panamao town in Sulu last year.

Malik also took hostage but later released Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, then Armed Forces National Capital Region Defense Command chief; Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Undersecretary Ruben Santos, and 18 of their staff and security men earlier this year.