Mamasapano mayor says clash area is MILF community

From ABS-CBN (Jan 29): Mamasapano mayor says clash area is MILF community

The mayor of Mamasapano town in Maguindanao said the area where a bloody clash occurred between the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police and rebels is hard to enter.

In an interview over DZMM, Mayor Tahirodin Benzar Ampatuan said anyone intending to enter Barangay Tukanalipao must first coordinate with local commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“Dahil po ito sa declared community sila ng MILF,” Ampatuan said.

"Para sa kaalaman ng lahat, kung saan po pumasok ang SAF is isolated na po siya eh. ‘Yong area po na yon is talagang napakahirap pasukin,” he added.

He also confirmed that the only way to reach the area is through a bridge over a certain river.

“Sa pagkakalam ko, ‘di po nalaman agad even po yung mga civilian natin, kasi ‘di po sila (SAF) dumaan mismo kumbaga sa mga karamihan ng mga residente. Parang meron po silang ibang dinaanan kaya pati po tayo nagtataka kung saan po sila dumaan papasok.”

“Kasi po minsan po ang mga SAF special training po sila, baka po dumaan sila sa may tubig o hindi pa po natin alam kung ano yong mga kanilang ginawa para po makapsok,” Ampatuan added.

Ampatuan said he only learned about the SAF operation on Sunday morning, when policemen from the provincial office and soldiers came to his house.

“Tinanaong po nila ako kung ano ang pwede nating maitulong, kaya tumawag po tayo agad-agad sa lokal na mga opisyal po.”

“Tinanong po natin kung anong status po sa loob, at saka tinanong po natin ‘yong kapitan na andoon po sa loob mismo. Sabi po, ang hirap na po nito hintuin dahil napakalakas na po ng putukan sa loob.”

Ampatuan also confirmed that a woman was tied up in the area where the clash occurred.

He said authorities are still investigating if the woman was affiliated with any group. She has been returned to her husband.

Ampatuan added that the situation is almost back to normal in Mamasapano. He also said that almost all evacuees have returned to their homes.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/01/29/15/mamasapano-mayor-says-clash-area-milf-community