31 bodies of MILF men dug up

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — At least 31 bodies of suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, six of whom believed to be escapees from the city jail here, were recovered yesterday at separate graves in a deserted mountain village in T’boli, South Cotabato.

T’boli Mayor Dad Tuan said 21 bodies were recovered from a shallow grave while 10 others were found in separate graves at Sitio Bianan in Barangay Basag.

Last weekend, two bodies, one identified as that of Ismael Mutalib who was reportedly executed by Alonto for alleged treacherous acts, were also recovered in the area.

It was in Bianan where Alonto and the MILF rebels led by a certain commander Ustadz Kahar sought refuge after leading the daring escape from the city jail that left an inmate dead and five other persons wounded.

The military launched pursuit operations in the area that led to a series of clashes in the last three weeks.

In another development, five soldiers including two junior Army officers were wounded in separate attacks staged by the MILF Thursday in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur in Central Mindanao.

The military disclosed that a dozen of MILF rebels were also wounded in the clashes.

The latest attack came when the rebels ambushed a convoy of the 57th Infantry Battalion led by Capt. Felimon Dumoran at about 6:05 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Bagan, Talayan.

Col. Hilario Atendido, spokesman of the Armed Forces Southern Command, said the troops came from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and were on their way to their battalion headquarters when they were ambushed.

Dumoran, 2Lt. Manaros Boransing, and an enlisted personnel Pfc. Dennis Catolico were wounded in the fierce fighting before the rebels withdrew, tagging their undetermined number of wounded comrades. — With Roel Pareño