Kato’s men attack army posts; clash still ongoing

From the Manila Standard Today (Jun 27): Kato’s men attack army posts; clash still ongoing

Three Muslim rebels were killed following fierce clashes between government forces and the breakaway Muslim rebel group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters led by Umbra Kato, which reportedly attacked at least three army detachments in Central Mindanao.

Kato was a former commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, who broke away from the MILF in 2008 and later founded the BIFF.

Heavy shelling was continuing but there were no immediate reports of additional casualties either from the BIFF group or the military side.

Western Mindanao Command Chief Lt., Gen Rey Ardo, however, declined to provide any details on the running gunbattle.

But a military source confirmed that at least three Muslim rebels were killed in the encounter in Datu Piang.

Reports said that some 300 heavily armed men of Kato, led by a certain Sukarno, attacked an army encampment at Brgy. Pagatin in Datu Piang.

There was no immediate report, however, whether the rebels were able to overrun the detachment during the ambush, but sources said army troopers were outnumbered by the BIFF forces. The rebels also attacked a military post in the outskirts of Datu Zalby town in Shariff Aguak but no information on possible casualties from both forces were available.

In Sultan Lambayong town, Sultan Kudarat, BIFF fighters also attacked a nearby army detachment, resulting in another gunbattle.

The rebels also allegedly attacked another military post in Midsayap town, Sultan Kudarat, but reports were not clear on the outcome of the clashes.

The fighting continued until late Monday night but went into a lull after the BIFF reportedly ran out of ammunition.

At dawn, the clashes resumed and at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the fighting was reported to be progressing.

Government troops shelled the rebels’ position with mortar by midday, but the BIFF forces remained in the area.

Meanwhile, communist rebels, killed a soldier and wounded 11 others in separate encounters in Northern Samar and Zamboanga del Sur, the military said.

Capt. Amado Gutierrez, public affairs chief of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said a member of the 20th Infantry Battalion was killed when an undetermined number of New People’s Army rebels ambushed the soldiers at around 4:30 a.m. while they were on their way to Bgy. Lungib in Victoria town.

“The rebels detonated the landmines they planted on the road and immediately followed by a volley of fire against our soldiers. The landmine blast killed a soldier and wounded six others, five of whom suffered only minor injuries,” Gutierrez said.
The gun battle lasted for 30 minutes. There was no reported casualty on the NPA side.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/06/27/katos-men-attack-army-posts-clash-still-ongoing/