MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato -- At least eight persons were killed and eight soldiers were
wounded during anti-drug operations before dawn Sunday in a remote village
here, authorities said.
According to Col. Noly Samarita, commander of the Army’s
602nd Brigade, a fire fight erupted when joint government forces were to serve
warrants of arrest against a certain Commander Mabrook, leader of armed lawless
elements in Barangay Nabalawag, Midsayap, North Cotabato
at 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
An Army report identified four of the fatalities as PO3
Darwin Espallardo of the North Cotabato PNP, Cpl. Jose Miravalles, Pfc. Jaypee
Duran, both of Division Reconnaissance Company, and an unidentified military
guide.
Four followers of Commander Mabrook, including his brother,
were also killed in the six-hour fighting.
Capt. Joan Petinglay, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry
Division, said eight government forces sustained minor injuries and are
undergoing medication at Camp
Siongco
She said that Mabrook and his followers were engaged in
illegal drug activities in the boundary of North Cotabato
and Maguindanao. It was not clear if Commander Mabrook was among those killed
or arrested.
Samarita said elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA), North Cotabato police, military
and the 6th Infantry Division Recon Company were approaching the village when
they were fired upon by armed men, triggering a fire fight.
A military report identified five of the eight wounded in
action (WIA) as Sgt. Arinio Grafil, Cpl. Diocesar Espanola, Pfc. Romnick
Clerigo, Privates Normel Grande and Edgar Gegone, all of the 6th Division
Reconnaissance Company.
Senior Supt. Emmanuel Peralta, chief of the Cotabato
provincial police, said the target of operations was Moks Masgal alias
“Commander Mabrook,” a former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sub-leader
with about 50 armed followers.
Peralta said Masgal was believed to be distributing shabu in
the borders of North Cotabato and Maguindanao.
A civilian, identified as Daib Malimbas, a resident of
Nabalawag, was killed during the shootout.
Two MG-520 attack helicopters provided air support, forcing
Commander Mabrook and his men to flee deep into the Maguindanao marshland.
Several packs of methamphetamine hydrochloride were seized
from the village.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=913697
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