MNLF, MILF aid troops in foiling Abu Sayyaf ambush

From Malaya (May 8): MNLF, MILF aid troops in foiling Abu Sayyaf ambush

TWO soldiers, including a major, and two Abu Sayyaf members were killed Monday while seven others were injured when the terrorists attacked the troops who were on a civic mission program with US forces and peace process personnel in Basilan.

Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade, named the slain soldiers as Maj. Alin Kannung, executive officer of the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion, and T/Sgt. Ferdinand Costan, also of the battalion.

Kannung is a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front. He was among hundreds of MNLF rebels who were integrated into the Armed Forces as part of a 1996 peace agreement with government.

Galvez said Kannung, 18th IB commander Lt. Col. Paolo Perez, and their men were on their way to Bohe Piang village in Al Barka town to distribute livestock and inspect projects when the fighting erupted around 3 p.m. in Sitio Pagtawanan in Magcawa village.

Galvez said MNLF and MILF rebels helped the soldiers.

“The MNLF and the MILF were with us in defending our position,” he said.

He said the attackers were led by one Basir Kasaran alias Commander Basir, and a Musana Jamiri. He said two enemy bodies were recovered at the scene but they have intelligence information that four more Abu Sayyaf men died.

He said the fighting also left four soldiers and three terrorists wounded.

Galvez said the soldiers were with US civil affairs troops and two personnel of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process at that time. He said the US troops were donors of 20 goats that were among those that were to be dispersed.

“Also, they wanted to inspect possible projects in the area…The Americans were not involved in the fighting, they withdrew when they heard the gunshots,” he said.

Galvez said the Americans, along with the two OPAPP personnel, were escorted by soldiers to a secured area. “They (Americans) withdrew because they are not allowed (to take part in combat),” he said.

“That is part of the military SOP (standard operating procedure). If there are engagements such as this, we should immediately extricate the Americans…They (Americans) are civil affairs personnel but they have no involvement (in the fighting),” he said.

He said the distribution of livestock proceeded yesterday.

Galvez said the Abu Sayyaf bandits were aided by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement, a faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. He said the bandits numbered around 30 to 40.

He said the perpetrators positioned themselves about 200 to 300 meters away from the soldiers. “Government forces were subjected to mortar and sniper fires for three hours,” he said.

Maj. Harold Cabunoc, commander of the 7th Civil Relations Group, said he spoke with Perez and narrated some of the details of the attack.

He said the soldiers’ V150 commando armored personnel carrier got stuck in mud, prompting the troops to “dismount” and secure the area.

“We have a standing operating procedure that if a vehicle is stuck, they should dismount and provide security,” said Cabunoc.

He said Kannung, who is a long-time resident of Al Barka, called his relatives from the MNLF and MILF to help them in route security. The area is a known bailiwick of the Abu Sayyaf.

“The MNLF helped, including commander Cobra and Commander Small Boy… While securing, the MNLF called him (Kannung) informing him that the Abu Sayyaf were coming to their (soldiers’) direction,” he said.

“Major Kannung was supervising the troops and was hit in the first volley of fire,” said Cabunoc.

He said the MNLF men also helped in extricating the wounded soldiers at the height of the fighting.

He said MILF commander Haji Tan also deployed MILF fighters to help Kannung, a cousin of his, to reinforce the soldiers.

“This means that the MNLF and the MNLF were on our side during that particular incident,” said Cabunoc.

“It was an ambush that was foiled by the MNLF,” said Cabunoc, stressing that the soldiers were informed of imminent attack.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/news/nation/30488-mnlf-milf-aid-troops-in-foiling-abu-sayyaf-ambush