EVACUATED. Around 2,000 residents from 3 villages in the towns of Aleosan and Pikit vacated their houses as BIFF rebels arrived in the area. Photo by Ferdh Cabrera
The death toll in the fighting between government troops and members of a breakaway rebel group reached 5, a military official said Sunday, August 11.
Maj. Gen. Gapuz, commander of the military’s 6th Division, said at least 5 followers of Ameril Umbra Kato, leader of the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), were killed in clashes Saturday, August 10, in Aleosan, North Cotabato.
Gapuz said two soldiers, identified as Sgt Greg Sarte and Sgt Alexis Armando of 40th Infantry Battalion, were wounded.
Fierce fighting broke out after soldiers encountered around 50 heavily armed BIFF men, who are allegedly coddling a Malaysian terror bomb expert believed behind in the series of bomb attacks in the region.
“We are on relentless pursuit against these rebels,” he said.
Earlier, North Cotabato Governor Emmelou Mendoza said around 2,000 people have been staying in the evacuation centre in the village of Pagangan in the town of Aleosan.
Von Al Haq, spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said by phone, said his group is in constant communication with their counterparts in the government to prevent a misencounter between their men and soldiers.
Al Haq recently revealed a Malaysian wanted by the US government for terrorist activities in Southeast Asia, Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, is being coddled by the breakaway group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao.
Marwan has been monitored in the country since 2003. He has also been reported hiding with Abu Sayyaf bandits.
Last year, a military report said Marwan had moved to Central Mindanao, an area of operation for the MILF.
It was not clear if Marwan, wanted by the US government for the series of terror attacks in southeast Asia, was in “Habitat,” a lair of BIFF situated in the village of Bualan.
The BIFF has denied coddling Marwan.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/36148-rebels-killed-cotabato-clash
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