Sunday, January 25, 2015

Maguindanao clash between SAF-CIDG vs. lawless elements, scores of casualties reported

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 25): Maguindanao clash between SAF-CIDG vs. lawless elements, scores of casualties reported

An ongoing firefight in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, between police’s Special Action Forces (SAF) and Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao against lawless elements has resulted so far to many casualties from both sides.

An initial report from the Maguindanao police said an undetermined number of lawless elements engaged members of the SAF and CIDG who were conducting law enforcement operations in barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, on Sunday dawn to get Abdul Basit Usman, who is included in the US-list of most wanted terrorists and carries a US$ one million dollar reward on his head.

Usman, a Filipino citizen trained on bomb making in Afghanistan, has links with the Abu Sayyaf Group and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist organizations operating in southern Philippines.

Usman, who is last reported to be in hiding in Central Mindanao, has long been wanted by authorities for his role in multiple bombing incidents since 2003.

In an interview by DXMY radio station here, Von Al Haq, Moro Islamic Liberation Front spokesman, placed the number of casualties at 27 body counts.

Reports added that at least 8 other members of the police raiding team are currently being held by the lawless elements.

Members of the Malaysian – led International Monitoring Team and joint GRP-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities are now in the area to disengage the combatants.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=728962

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