Tuesday, April 15, 2014

MILF not involved in Basilan encounter -- AFP chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 15): MILF not involved in Basilan encounter -- AFP chief

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff, Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista, on Tuesday said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was not present in the encounter between military units and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in the boundaries of Unkaya Pukan and Tipo-Tipo towns, Basilan which resulted in the death of 18 brigands and 2 soldiers last Friday.

However, he admitted there are some members of the MILF who appear to have been involved in an individual capacity.

"There is no participation of the MILF in the Tipo-Tipo (clash) but only individual participation. The mechanism is working during the (encounter), they agreed to support the operation," he pointed out in an interview.

"Now we know (for a fact) that the MILF has irregular forces which they have difficulty in controlling and sometimes these people are related to the ASG and are joining in the latter's fight in their individual capacity," Bautista stressed.

He stated that they have informed the MILF leadership about this and are letting them handle the issue.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=635449

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