10 more Malik men killed, 18 hurt in Sulu clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Ten rebels were killed and 18 wounded in a military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf and rogue Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters led by Habier Malik in Sulu, the military said yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael, Joint Task Force Comet commander, said killed was a sub-commander and relative of Malik, while two sub-commanders were wounded.

“We are continuing the police action against Malik and his group who have pending warrant for his arrest for attacking Panamao town last April 2007 which left several people killed,” he said.

Rafael said Marines and Army Scout Rangers recovered a Belgian FN rifle with scope and rounds of ammunition.

Malik has continued to evade pursuing government troops, he added.

Rafael said the police action was directed against Malik and his MNLF band in Sulu.

The MNLF has abandoned Malik, he added.

Rafael said Malik and his men have unilaterally attacked military camps and the civilian population, and taken hostage Marine Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino and a senior adviser, along with 18 of their staff and security personnel last February.

The fighting in Sulu has alarmed the MNLF leadership that the offensive might affect its Jan. 14 meeting with the government and the Organization of Islamic Conference, he added.

The meeting is an offshoot of the tripartite meeting held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last month that threshed out problems in the full implementation of the government’s 1996 peace agreement with the MNLF.  – Roel Pareño