MILF: Monday gun battle a clear violation of ceasefire

From ABS-CBN (Mar 19): MILF: Monday gun battle a clear violation of ceasefire

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar on Tuesday said there was a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement in the gun battle in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao on Monday.
 
One of the key suspects in the Maguindanao massacre in 2009, Dainga Ampatuan, was killed in the firefight with arresting lawmen.

Some policemen and soldiers and a civilian were wounded in the incident.

The firefight ensued after the soldiers and policemen were about to serve a warrant for the suspect's arrest after learning that he was hiding in a house in Sitio Lab, boundary of Barangay Meta, Datu Unsay and Barangay Koloy.

Jaafar said the serving of the warrant that resulted in the encounter could have been avoided if there was proper coordination.

He said the coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities should look into this issue to neutralize its effect.

"We suggest dapat pagusapan ito ng ceasefire committee ng MILF at GPH at subukang mahanapan ng solusyon para ma-neutralize ang kung anuman ang maaaring maging resulta," Jaafar said.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) released the names of those who were wounded in the incident.

They were identified as:

Police Supt. Julius Coyme
PO3 Edward Bondoc
PO3 Sean James Cayanga
PO2 Orlan Mante
PO1 Masacal Camarudin
PO1 Amer Mohamad
PO1 Guia Mangrag
Major Arnel Baccay
Private First Class Joebert Aden
Acrima Haron - civilian

Two gunmen from Ampatuan's group, identified as Kinog Mamaluba and Norin Ariray, are now in the custody of CIDG-ARMM.

Meanwhile, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade Deputy Commander Col. Edgar Labitoria clarified their presence in the area of the firefight.

Labitoria said the police troops asked their assistance following the intense exchange of fire.

"Humingi sila ng assistance kasi na-pin down na sila sa area. Nakita ko sa isang battalion namin gamit ang binocular na talagang nakahilera sila, 'di sila makasampa sa kanilang mga sasakyan dahil pinapuputukan talaga sila. It was purely a police operation pero siyempre dahil nakita namin na-pin down sila at hindi makalabas sa area, alangan namang 'di namin sila tulungan," he said.

Labitoria said the Philippine Army is strictly upholding the ceasefire agreement and the ongoing talks between the government and the MILF.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/node/284460