AFP enters MILF stronghold

MANILA, Philippines - The military has penetrated the stronghold of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander Umbra Kato in Sulu, reducing the rebels’ capability.

Maj. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, commander of the East Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), said operations against Kato have somehow affected the training grounds of Jemaah Islamiyah, a terrorist group that originated in Indonesia and is believed to be linked to the al-Qaeda terror network of Osama bin Laden.

Ferrer said the JI could have transferred to another area in Western Mindanao.

He said the troops have accomplished much in the past week to disrupt rebel activities in the area.

“We have already significantly degraded their (Kato’s group) capability but they have sub-commanders, including Commander Tallo, Commander Boni Ayunun. We have almost neutralized their group,” added Ferrer. “What is happening now is our troops are able to penetrate deeper into the base area of Kato and the soldiers have entered the small camps so what we are doing now is to try to corner him somewhere in the huge marshland so hopefully we could corner him (Kato) and hopefully we can get him.”

He said the rebels’ firepower has been affected by the recent seizure of a cache of firearms during military operation.

“We hope to get more (firearms) as we continue attacking his other camps but our main objective actually is to get Kato, yung cornering him and getting him is a big challenge,” said Ferrer.

Ferrer said the military has limited capability in covering river lines.

“Marshland or Liguasan marsh covers part of North Cotabato, Maguindanao and with the big area the troops have limited capability in the swamps.”

Ferrer said they have been trying to contain the rebels’ operations in the stronghold of Kato, but he noted that it was possible that even MILF members not belonging to Kato’s group got involved in the military operations due to absence of a clear boundary among the groups.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu earlier said that MILF members who were not under Kato got involved in the military operations.

“That is possible kasi yung ibang tropa rin nila humahalo naman sa 105th… but otherwise we confine our operations within the area of Kato, if ever their people got involved, most probably these are the people who are also moving around and getting into the area of Kato, we are not going outside Maguindanao, our operations are focused there,” he added.

When asked if Kato has recovered from wounds during military operations, Ferrer said they have no information about it. “When he (Kato) was reported wounded, our information was cut off, he must be recuperating somewhere so totally nawala siya sa picture.”