Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Woman hurt as MILF armed men strafe Maguindanao village official's home

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 31): Woman hurt as MILF armed men strafe Maguindanao village official's home

A woman was hurt and several families have fled to safer grounds after hundreds of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerillas harassed and strafed the house of a village official in Talitay, Maguindanao Tuesday afternoon, a local official said.

Talitay Vice Mayor Allan Sabal told DXMS Radyo Bida that about 500 heavily armed MILF fired at the house of Village Councilor Madimuda Manibpel at past 11 a.m.

“We heard explosions, gun burst and M-79 grenade explosion,” Sabal said, adding that his house was few blocks away from the house of Manibpel.

Nobody was hurt in the family of Manibpel but a woman from Sitio Watamama, Barangay Gadungan, Talitay was hit by stray bullet on her leg. He was rushed to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City.

Sabal said the attackers were all members of the 105th base command of the MILF under the leadership of Commanders Howl, Commander Gapur, Commander AButalwa and Commander Ali.

When the attackers left, Sabal said he went to see Manibpel who told him that he was having lunch with his family when the gunmen arrived and without provocation opened fire.

He quoted Manibpel as saying that they immediately sought cover and firing lasted for about 20 minutes.

Afraid of further armed conflict, an undetermined number of families from the villages of Mangay, Poblacion, and Gadungan fled to nearby town of Datu Anggal and the Talitay town center.

Sabal said he already informed the MILF leadership about harassment.

Von Al Haq, MILF vice chair for military affairs, said an emissary had been sent by MILF chair Al Haj Murad to prevent the 105th base command from leaving its camp.

Al Haq said the conflict could have been triggered by family feud involving MILF members and the village official.

He added a probe team has been formed and a directive for a ceasefire had been issued.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=720761

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