Kato’s fighters nix truce

From the Manila Standard Today (Jul 10): Kato’s fighters nix truce

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters renewed its attacks on Tuesday despite the military’s announcement of a unilateral ceasefire in deference to the Ramadan, as the rebel forces detonated two improvised explosive devices they planted under the Magaslong bridge in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said that the explosion did not seriously damaged the 30-meter long bridge.

“The bridge is still intact. The bombs were planted underneath the bridge,” Hermoso said.

He said the explosion occurred around 11:30 a.m.

Engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways immediately went to the area to check on the bridge after the explosion.

“The engineers assessed that only light vehicles may pass the bridge for the meantime while portions of it that were damaged are undergoing repairs,” Hermoso said.

Hermoso said local officials and residents of Datu Piang and nearby towns condemned the BIFF attack, especially since it came a day before the Muslims worldwide observed the Holy Month of Ramadan.

“This recent act of the BIFF is strongly condemned by the people, businessmen, and local government of Datu Piang and adjoining communities as ‘Haram’ (forbidden) especially that the Holy Month of Ramadan is about to start,” Hermoso said.

Meanwhile, the military said it ended its operations against the BIFF because it did not want to the clashes to continue to when the Ramadan begins today.

The start of Ramadan was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and the Darul Iftah or Islamic House of Opinion have moved it because there was still no new moon sighted as of Monday.

“The operations of the Armed Forces was only for a limited time. They have ended the operations because of the start of Ramadan,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

The military earlier confirmed that an Army officer and four enlisted personnel were killed during weekend clashes between government troops and the BIFF led by Ameril Umbra Kato.

The military also cited unconfirmed reports of 18 BIFF members killed and eight civilians wounded.

In his message to mark the Islamic month-long fasting, President Benigno Aquino III said Ramadan “allows not only for contemplation and atonement but also for (Muslims) to be more mindful of the Prophet’s teachings.”

“May your prayer and fasting evoke a deeper and more profound connection with your heritage and faith, inspire discipline, restraint, and generosity of spirit; and help guide you towards becoming greater embodiments of harmony and social justice,” Aquino said.

“I wish you a solemn and meaningful Ramadan; may this event foster greater understanding and cooperation among our varied faiths, and guide the Philippines towards lasting peace and progress,” the President added.

Government chief negotiator Miriam Ferrer earlier assured the public that the operations against Kato were cleared with the MILF through the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities.

“All of the law enforcement actions that the military has taken are coordinated with the CCCH. We do not want that this would embroil the government and the MILF,” she said.

A military source said Kato was “posturing” to disrupt the peace talks, which have reached a critical stage as both panels were set to finalize the three remaining annexes for the peace accord.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/07/10/katos-fighters-nix-truce/