Mud run pits soldiers vs. MILF rebels in friendly match

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 4): Mud run pits soldiers vs. MILF rebels in friendly match

PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Sultan Kudarat – They used to shoot each other anytime and anywhere they meet. But on Friday, government forces and Moro rebels competed for a cash prize offered by Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc during the Army-sponsored “1st Makabayan Mud Run” competition, held in a rice field here.

Cabunoc, commander of the Army’s 33rd Infantry “Makabayan” Battalion based here, said soldiers, police and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerillas faced one another, this time in the field of friendly competition aimed at developing camaraderie and friendship.

The government is currently in the thick of negotiations with the MILF to end the decades-old setback of Moro struggle for self-determination in Mindanao.

State forces and Moro rebels chanted, yelled and cheered their respective teams as they competed in several obstacle courses in a muddy rice field in Barangay Poblacion here.

Even farmers took time out in their daily farming activities to witness the first-ever government forces versus Moro rebel friendly competition.

Cabunoc said the most exciting part of the competition was the obstacle course with two participants, one carrying the other on his back, and hurdling mud to reach the finish line.

The Army’s 33rd IB 1st Reaction Platoon won the first prize of PHP5,000, followed by Charlie Company, Bravo Company and the MILF team, winning the second, third and fourth places, respectively.

“It is not the prize that counted most, but the camaraderie, friendship and most important, the promotion of peace among us,” Cabunoc said.

“We are thankful to Col. Cabunoc for reaching (out) and inviting us in this friendly competition,” MILF leader Abdurahim Molilis said.

With the success of the 1st Makabayan Mud Run, Cabunoc said similar activities are in the pipeline to help boost peace between the former enemies in the battlefield.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1014819