MILF accuses AFP of violating ceasefire deal

MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Monday accused the military of violating the ceasefire, days after the conclusion of its 37th round of formal talks with the government.

The MILF said in a statement that about 40 Army soldiers attacked its forces in Sitio Badja Maluha, Barangay Baguindan, in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan on Monday morning.

The group claimed it suffered “scores of casualties” during the attack.

“Firefight ensued for nearly 30 minutes between the MILF forces under Ustaz Hamzah Sapanton, Provincial Committee Chairman, and the raiding government forces numbering to more or less 40 men,” said Abbas Salung, member of the MILF ceasefire committee.

“The encounter had already ceased, but actions must be undertaken by the government to avoid recurrence of the firefight between the government and MILF forces,” he added.

The military confirmed that it conducted an operation in Tipo-Tipo, but claimed that it was directed against the bandit group Abu Sayyaf.

Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army’s 104th brigade said that about eight Abu Sayyaf members were slain during the clash but the report remains unconfirmed.

Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman Col. Rodrigo Gregorio said security forces had launched a ground assault against terrorists based in Barangay Silangkun, just beside Baguindan.

Grgorio said that the terrorists targeted by the military and the police were led by Isnilon Hapilon and Furuji Indama, who were tagged in several high-profile kidnappings, murders and bombings.

He said the troops clashed with the Abu Sayyaf militants at around 5:30 a.m.

“We would like to emphasize that the operation was conducted and directed only against the Abu Sayyaf terrorists with utmost consideration on the safety of MILF communities in the operational area,” he said.

Galvez said the Abu Sayyaf lair was only about 300 meters from the MILF communities.

“We were able to seize the camp in a span of one hour,” he said.

Not coordinated

The MILF said the government’s actions in Baguindan were not coordinated with the ceasefire panels and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group.

Sapanton, leader of the MILF group that was allegedly attacked by the Army, said the incident clouds the government’s sincerity in the peace talks.

“Clearly there is a deliberate act to undermine the ceasefire and the peace talks between the government and MILF, which only compounds the increasing doubts of the public over the sincerity of the government in the peace process,” Sapanton was quoted by the statement as saying.

The incident has been reported to the MILF Headquarters at camp Darapanan in Maguindanao. The MILF leadership has asked its ceasefire panel to file the necessary complaint for ceasefire violations.

The incident occurred four days after the government and MILF completed the 37th formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur.

Both panels agreed during the meeting to settle the remaining issues on power-sharing, wealth sharing and normalization. Both sides also approved the terms of reference for the Sajahatra Bangsamoro, a program that seeks to promote development in Mindanao.

Earlier, the MILF and the government reported that there were no encounters between their forces last year due to the effective implementation of the ceasefire.