MILF faction attacks camp of village chairman

TUBURAN, Basilan, Philippines – An armed faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attacked a camp of a village chairman in Sumisip town as a result of a deep-seated family grudge, according to a military official yesterday.

At least three civilians – two females and a minor – were wounded when MILF rogue leader Hassan Asnawi alias Dan Laksaw and militiaman Juhair Aliman attacked the house of Yusop Abdulajib, barangay chairman of Sapa Baluk, at about 5 a.m. Thursday.

Brig. Gen. Eugenio Clemen of the 1st Marine Brigade said gun fire coming from both sides forced villagers to escape to safer ground for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

Soldiers from the Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 (MBLT) responded to pacify the warring clans but were also fired upon by Asnawi’s faction, which occupied a mosque and used it as cover.

Clemen said the soldiers drove off Asnawi and his group and recovered homemade bombs and RPG ammunitions from the mosque and a nearby school, which was also occupied by the attacking armed men.

Abdulajid said that the residents refused to return to their homes for fear that the rebels will return. He confirmed that the Asnawi initiated the attack after one of his relatives was killed in an encounter last month. 

Yusop claimed that Asnawi’s group has been terrorizing the village and has been looting the residents’ motorcycles and farm animals, prompting them to run after his followers.

Asnawi has reportedly demanded Yusop’s family to pay P150,000 blood money and the return of the assault rifle recovered to settle the conflict amicably.