A police operation by elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police (SAF-PNP) purposely to serve a warrant of arrest on Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as “Marwan” resulting to the death of at least 30 members including five (5) officers, and the captured of another eight is unfortunate, said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The fierce and bloody firefight in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao started at around 2:30 AM on Sunday and lasted for several hours. The MILF suffered five (5) dead, according to reports from the field.
The “dusk to dawn” gun battle in the said village between SAF-PNP Troops and MILF rebels allegedly joined by another rebel group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) that also have a camp in the area.
This however has to be validated first before making a formal statement pending an official report from the International Monitoring Team (IMT), the MILF said.
Mohagher Iqbal, MILF Chief Negotiator said the clash was triggered by lack of coordination on the SAF operation.
“There was no coordination,(nasagasaan din nila ang tropa namin) and they also enggaged our troops nearby aside from the BIFF, that how started the bloody war today”, Iqbal said over the phone.
“Marwan”, whose presence had been confirmed in the Tukanalipao is among the list of most wanted terrorists by the United States and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has offered a $5-million reward for any information that will lead to his capture.
Mamasapano Mayor Benzar Ampatuan confirmed that loud explosions and gunfire were heard from the scene of the gunfight and advised his barangay chairmen to see to it that local folks are safe.
“Two of my constituents were wounded and we are still working to evacuate those who are believed to be trapped civilians”, Ampatuan said.
BIFF spokesperson Abu Misry Mama said the firefight started when police attempted to raid the suspected hideout of Basit Usman that was actually the house of a certain Ustadz Manan, a sub-commander of MILF 105th base command under Zacaria Goma.
The Army 1st Mechanized Brigade under Col. Gener Del Rosario deployed tanks along the highway but could not engage for fear of hitting civilians or police.
“We have no communication with the SAF in the area inside. At first, there was no coordination with us”, Del Rosario said.
The Army 6th Infantry Division and the Maguindanao provincial police also said there was no coordination with them on the SAF operation.
Bodies of slain police officers were retrieved by responding government soldiers after the joint International Monitoring Team (IMT) and joint MILF- Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities came to calm the situation down.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1470-maguindanao-encounter-unfortunate-saf-pnp-never-coordinated-with-the-ceasefire-committee-adjag-milf
The “dusk to dawn” gun battle in the said village between SAF-PNP Troops and MILF rebels allegedly joined by another rebel group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) that also have a camp in the area.
This however has to be validated first before making a formal statement pending an official report from the International Monitoring Team (IMT), the MILF said.
Mohagher Iqbal, MILF Chief Negotiator said the clash was triggered by lack of coordination on the SAF operation.
“There was no coordination,(nasagasaan din nila ang tropa namin) and they also enggaged our troops nearby aside from the BIFF, that how started the bloody war today”, Iqbal said over the phone.
“Marwan”, whose presence had been confirmed in the Tukanalipao is among the list of most wanted terrorists by the United States and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has offered a $5-million reward for any information that will lead to his capture.
Mamasapano Mayor Benzar Ampatuan confirmed that loud explosions and gunfire were heard from the scene of the gunfight and advised his barangay chairmen to see to it that local folks are safe.
“Two of my constituents were wounded and we are still working to evacuate those who are believed to be trapped civilians”, Ampatuan said.
BIFF spokesperson Abu Misry Mama said the firefight started when police attempted to raid the suspected hideout of Basit Usman that was actually the house of a certain Ustadz Manan, a sub-commander of MILF 105th base command under Zacaria Goma.
The Army 1st Mechanized Brigade under Col. Gener Del Rosario deployed tanks along the highway but could not engage for fear of hitting civilians or police.
“We have no communication with the SAF in the area inside. At first, there was no coordination with us”, Del Rosario said.
The Army 6th Infantry Division and the Maguindanao provincial police also said there was no coordination with them on the SAF operation.
Bodies of slain police officers were retrieved by responding government soldiers after the joint International Monitoring Team (IMT) and joint MILF- Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities came to calm the situation down.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1470-maguindanao-encounter-unfortunate-saf-pnp-never-coordinated-with-the-ceasefire-committee-adjag-milf
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