3 Usman relatives killed in Maguindanao clashes

MANILA, Philippines - Three relatives of wanted terrorist Basit Usman died in recent clashes between the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and government forces in Maguindanao, the military said yesterday.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said two of Usman’s nephews – identified as Rene Masabpi and Kumidi Simeon – were killed in a series of encounters in Shariff Saydona Mustapha town last Wednesday.

“Another unidentified relative of elusive terrorist leader Basit Usman was also killed in fierce clashes with Marine troopers in the swampland of Barangay Pamalian in Shariff Saydona Mustapha,” he added.

The military, however, did not recover the bodies of the slain rebels. Cabunoc said the three fatalities were buried by retreating BIFF rebels in shallow graves in Sitio Ilang, Barangay Tina in Shariff Aguak town.

“Civilian informants pinpointed their burial sites to government troops,” Cabunoc said.

Usman was one of the targets of the police Special Action Force (SAF) troopers who figured in the Jan. 25 clash in Mamasapano, which left 44 police commandos dead.

Usman managed to escape and is now being tracked down by security forces.

The other target, Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, was killed shortly before the bloody encounter.

Cabunoc said troops under the Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 spotted about 20 BIFF rebels who were either dead or wounded during the gun battles.

“They were carried away by comrades when they fled from the encounter site,” he said.

Cabunoc said Marines are now closing in on the group of Usman and five foreign terrorists being coddled by BIFF leader Mohammad Ali Tambako.

The military claimed a total of 116 BIFF rebels have been killed and wounded since it launched an all-out offensive against the rebel group last month.

Thousands of civilians have moved out of their villages for fear of getting caught in the crossfire.

Officials said at least P12 million is needed to feed close to 73,000 evacuees in Maguindanao who have been affected by the military offensive against the BIFF.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) estimated that it would be spending at least P12 million a week on food packs to support families displaced in the ongoing military campaign.

ARMM’s Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (HEART) reported a total of 14,517 displaced families or 72,585 people in 11 affected towns in the province as of Tuesday.

The ARMM said the evacuees are mostly residents of the towns of Mamasapano, Datu Salibo, Shariff Saydona Mustapaha, Shariff Aguak, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Talayan, Datu Anggal, Midtimbang, Guindulungan, Datu Unsay, Talitay and Rajah Buayan.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said they could still sustain the evacuees in the next few weeks using their Special Purpose Fund and Quick Response Fund.

“We also have the commitment of support from international non-government organizations operating in Maguindanao,” Hataman said.

Hataman said Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman promised to help sustain the ARMM-HEART’s relief efforts.

“The office of Secretary Soliman already provided 8,000 packs of food supplies for the evacuees,” Hataman said.

He said Army and Marine officials supervising the ongoing military operations against the BIFF had asked for a three-day extension, starting Wednesday, of their ongoing tactical maneuvers in at least six Maguindanao towns where rebels have been operating with impunity.

The ARMM-HEART has distributed more than 50 truckloads of supplies to evacuees in earlier relief missions in conflict-stricken towns.

The affected municipalities are now guarded by soldiers backed by armored vehicles and 105 howitzers.

Amir Mawallil, executive director of ARMM’s Bureau of Public Information, said each food pack worth P450 distributed to evacuees is comprised of rice, sardines and noodles, and can sustain a family for three days.

Each family now confined in relief sites needs at least two food packs a week to survive, he stressed. – With John Unson, Edith Regalado