Suspected MNLF men engage soldiers in Basilan firefight

From GMA News (Sep 12): Suspected MNLF men engage soldiers in Basilan firefight

Suspected members of the Moro National Liberation Front engaged government troops in a firefight in Lamitan City in Basilan province Thursday morning, police said.

The Philippine National Police cited sketchy initial reports showing the incident occurred after 9 a.m., radio dzBB's Glen Juego reported.

But the report said there was little information because of problems with communication lines from Lamitan City.

A separate dzBB report quoted a local Lamitan official as saying the exchange of fire was ongoing as of 9:45 a.m.

In a separate report from the Army, the firefight occurred in Valentine Detachment at Barangay Magcawa, Tipo-Tipo town when around 50 armed men believed to be members of the bandit Abu Sayyaf group and MNLF fighters harassed government forces.

Capt. Jefferson Somera, spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division also said soldiers stationed at Sitio Camalig, Bohe Paho, Ungkaya-Pukan town provided support to the Army detachment at Tipo-Tipo at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday evening.

It was not immediately clear if the suspected MNLF members in Basilan are allied with those now engaging government forces in a standoff in Zamboanga City since Monday.

The standoff in Zamboanga City entered its fourth day Thursday, with the situation still tense and police and soldiers maintaining strict checkpoint operations, dzBB's Benjie Liwanag Jr. reported.

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