MILF now probing on pocket hostilities

From the Mindanao Cross (Jan 22): MILF now probing on pocket hostilities

THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front is now investigating on the reported involvement of certain MILF groups in hostilities in Central Mindanao following the January 13 imposition of a nationwide gun ban by the Commission on Elections.

Just after the MILF announced its effort meant to address security issues involving alleged members, Commander Trebol, whose real name is Maguinda Sibangan, and his followers attacked a community of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) at Sitio Malabuaya in Kabacan, North Cotabato, not far from the border of the province with Maguindanao.

Senior Superintendent Danilo Peralta, director of the North Cotabato Provincial Police, said Sibangan targeted the group of Eddie Buisan, also known as Iranon Mansa.

Peralta said Sibangan, who belongs to the MILF’s 108th Base Command, and Buisan and his relatives are locked in a long-time rido, or clan war, which stemmed from a land conflict.

Peralta said the firefight, which lasted for about half an hour, sent villagers running for their lives and forced the closure of the Cotabato-Davao Highway traversing the scene of the encounter.

Two MNLF members, Nari Kamsa and Meno Maganaka, were wounded in the ensuing skirmish. They were rushed to the Kabacan Polymedic Hospital for medication.

Banisilan incident

Von Al-Haq, speaking on the MILF’s behalf, told reporters that the gunmen whot ambushed and killed Tuesday two security escorts of a barangay chairman in Banisilan town in North Cotabato could be guerrillas who have long been dropped from their roster of members due to various offenses.

“Some of them have long allied with local politicians,” Al-Haq said.

The fatalities, Takanda Mamukao and Muslimin Ampuan, were on their way to Midsayap, North Cotabato along with Sonny Kadil, who is the chairman of Barangay Pantar in Banisilan, on board separate motorcycles when gunmen emerged from one side of the road and shot them with assault rifles.

Kadil survived the ambush unscathed but Mamukao and Ampuan were not as lucky. They both died on the spot from gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies.

“Lawless elements”

The Banisilan Municipal Police said Kadil, in a statement, already implicated a certain Commander Bataga as among the gunmen who perpetrated the attack.

Bataga is a known henchman of Commander Faron, a former MILF commander whom the local police and the military have long tagged as “lawless element” owing to his involvement in criminal activities that drew flak from local villagers.

Al-Haq said they would also look into what could have caused the deep-seated animosity between Kadil and his adversaries to determine possible solutions that can stave off recurring hostilities between them.

“The MILF leadership does not condone any misbehavior of any member. The MILF does not also allow any member to join partisan groups,” Al-Haq said.

Lt. Col. Roy Galido, commanding officer of the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion, said Faron also has an existing tactical alliance with the group of a certain Commander Tanda, a former leader of the MNLF in Banisilan, who was also booted out of the MNLF for his involvement in lawless activities.

“All of them are of the same feathers now. They are all lawless elements now,” Galido said.

Galido recommended the participation of the government and the MILF’s joint cease-fire committee in addressing the peace and security concerns hounding Banisilan town.

Datu Piang hostilities

Al-Haq said they are also looking into the tension between two feuding groups in Datu Piang, Maguindanao that figured in a series of recent firefights, amidst Commission on Election’ nationwide ban on carrying of firearms, which started January 13.Sources from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division said the hostilities in Datu Piang involved the combined groups of Commanders Benaw and Duma Anayatin and their common enemy, Commander Quiapo, and his followers. Benaw and Anayatin are both identified with the MILF while Quiapo is known for his links with the MNLF.

Col. Hermoso said their commander, Maj. Gen. Caesar Ronnie Ordoyo, wants the conflict involving armed groups in Datu Piang settled peacefully by the town’s Peace and Order Council and the joint government-MILF cease-fire committee.

Hermoso, however, said the 6th ID will uphold its constitutional mandate to prevent innocent villagers from getting trapped in the hostilities between the feuding groups.

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