All things quiet now in North Cotabato, Maguindanao - AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 8): All things quiet now in North Cotabato, Maguindanao - AFP

Fighting between the renegade group "Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters" and government forces have ceased in North Cotabato and Maguindanao, military officials said Monday.

Armed Forces public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said "It is peaceful there now."

But despite the cessation of fighting, military units in the area are still on alert.

Zagala also clarified the resulting AFP offensive and pursuit operations against the BIFF fighters who attacked AFP personnel based there, were coordinated with the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

"They (MILF leadership) were consulted first before any retaliatory attacks were conducted against the BIFF," he added.

Zagala said this was necessary as the renegades have hidden themselves in an area known to host large numbers of MILF fighters.

The AFP public affairs office chief said the coordination was necessary to prevent encounters between government and MILF forces, hereby endangering the ongoing peace talks between the two parties.

"The MILF leadership agreed that such attacks should not be left unanswered," Zagala pointed out.

He also clarified that the BIFF attacks are harassment tactics only aimed at mobile and soft targets of the AFP.

"These are only small skirmishes and harassment attacks," the AFP public affairs office chief stated.

However, Zagala said that the incidents are deeply regretted by the military as they cost lives of five soldiers.

At least 23 were were believed killed as clashes broke out Saturday between the military and the BIFF in North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

Of those killed, five were from the government side, including one junior Army officer and four enlisted personnel.

Some 18 were reported killed from the BIFF side.

Two soldiers were also wounded-in-action, said Col. Dickson Hermoso, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said.

Recent atrocities by the BIFF, perceived by the military as hell-bent to derail the peace process between the central government and the MILF, had prompted the military, and police as well as the government-MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group to launch law-enforcement operations.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=541987