No Kato in Maguindanao raid

MANILA, Philippines – Troops failed to catch wanted Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander Ameril Umbra Kato and his close aide when they raided his hideout in Maguindanao.

However, the soldiers seized a 60-mm mortar used as booby trap at the main door, two misfired 90 mm ammunition, assorted sizes of common wire nails, 500 grams of explosive components, an ICOM radio, speaker wire and remote-controlled toy cars. Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Army spokesman, said troops from the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion and bomb disposal experts swooped down on the house of Bobby Azin, one of Kato’s trusted men in Barangay Pagatin in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town on Saturday.

“Said items were brought to the 66th EODT station in Tacurong City for proper disposition,” he said.

In Sarangani province, hundreds of residents of coastal barangays are joining the Army’s Barangay Defense System (BDS).

Residents of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum towns are determined to defend their barangays against MILF attacks.

The volunteers are now undergoing a two-day orientation and training under the Army’s 73rd and 25th Infantry Battalions led by Lt. Col. Bogie de Leon and Maj. Rolando Rodil.

The recruitment of BDS members was initiated by Col. Ricardo Rainier Cruz, 1002nd Brigade commander based in Malungon town in Sarangani.

As of today, in Kiamba town alone, there are close to 200 residents from Barangays Kamanday, Bantasan, Lomuyon and Soli who have joined the BDS, according to Army Capt. Aquiles dela Cruz.

Last Sunday, eight soldiers, including an officer, were wounded when an improvised explosive device went off following a clash with MILF rebels in Barangay Tukanalipao, in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao. – With Ramil Bajo