10 MILF rebels slain in Maguindanao clash

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Government troops killed 10 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in a clash in Maguindanao yesterday.

Col. Jonathan Ponce, Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman, said the soldiers were on patrol in Barangay Bialong in Mamasapano town when the rebels opened fire on them.

“That has always been their strategy,” he said.

“Whenever their companions are surrounded by soldiers in other areas, or are nearing decimation, they attack other areas to ease the pressure being exerted on MILF forces that are under attack by the military.”

The slain rebels were felled by Army snipers one after another as they traded shots in Barangay Bialong and surrounding towns, he added.

Ponce said the military operation at the border of Mamasapano and Shariff Aguak, the capital of Maguindanao, is a “calibrated police action” to flush out MILF units behind last week’s series of terrorist bombings in Maguindanao.

“The operation is a calibrated response to the two separate attempts to bomb the premises of the Nabundas Elementary School in Barangay Nabundas, in total disregard of the safety of school children there,” he said.

Local officials said the hostilities spread to Barangays Dugengen, Linantangan, Tukanalipao and Nabundas, all in the same town.

MILF bands launched diversionary attacks to enable their beleaguered comrades to reposition away from Bialong, the officials added.

Barangay officials have confirmed that the MILF suffered 10 fatalities, mostly adolescents, according to members of Maguindanao’s provincial peace and order council.

In General Santos City, an MILF commander was wounded when he tried to fight off arresting policemen.

Jayson Saliganan, who has standing warrants of arrest for murder, arson, and robbery in Sarangani, suffered a gunshot wound in the leg.

Police said Saliganan was on his way to Barangay Tamblar in General Santos City when police arrested him at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Saliganan, who carried a P5-million reward for his arrest, is confined at the Mindanao Medical Center.  – With James Mananghaya, Dennis Carcamo