While apologizing for the inaccurate report, Army Captain Joan Petinglay, 6th Division spokesperson, confirms civilians in Pikit have evacuated out of fear
FALSE ALARM. The military says what they announced as a clash between BIFF and the MILF (shown in this AFP file photo at
The military apologized Friday, February 6, for releasing a report Thursday that there had been a firefight between Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Pikit,
Army Captain Joan
Petinglay, 6th Division spokesperson, said the incident in the village of Kabasalan
“There was single
firing of guns from both sides in the area but you can’t call it firefight.
There’s a difference on that,” Von Al Haq, MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed
Forces chief, told Catholic run-radio station dxMS.
Still, Petinglay
said, the presence of both MILF and BIFF forces in Kabasalan forced civilians
to evacuate – a claim confirmed by MILF chief negotiator Mohaqher Iqbal.
She explained
that MILF’s commander Jack Abas – who heads the front’s 108th, 109th,
and 110th base commands – had prior coordination with their troops
in Pikit for the conduct of peace dialogues.
The BIFF, led by
commander Kagui Karialan, withdrew Thursday night toward the town of Sultan
Senior Inspector
Sindatu Karim, Pikit police chief, said civilians heard sniper shots in
Kabasalan.
“They MILF were
at the village to prevent also the entry of BIFF rebels,” he said.
Al Haq denied
reports that the incident was staged to dismiss public impression that the MILF
was not sincere with the peace talks after 44 elite cops died in
their hands last January 25.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/83155-military-apologizes-no-milf-biff-firefight-north-cotabato
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