CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao –- Lawless elements
in Maguindanao and North Cotabato have intensified its harassment against
government forces the past three days, the military here said.
Capt. Joann Petinglay, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division,
said armed groups have launched attacks on government forces and paramilitary
units in the towns of Pikit, North Cotabato
and in Datu Abdulla Sangki and Datu Anggal towns in Maguindanao.
“No casualty was reported on government side,” she said. She
could not say if the attackers suffered injuries when soldiers returned fire in
every attacks carried by suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
BIFF spokesperson Abu Misry Mama owned up to the harassment,
warning government forces of more offensives ahead.
In Pikit, North Coabato, Senior Insp. Sindatu Karim, town
police chief, said about 20 armed men simultaneously opened fire on the Army’s
38th Infantry Battalion detachment in Barangay Nalapaan the other night.
A 30-minute fire fight ensued.
Karim said the armed skirmishes could have been triggered by
a long standing land dispute involving Moro residents and lawless BIFF.
Following the incident, soldiers and policemen deployed in
the towns of Carmen, Aleosan, Kabacan and Midsayap where the BIFF identified
publicly as its target areas.
But Capt. Petinglay said all Army units in its area of
jurisdiction have been placed on alert status, not only in areas publicly named
by lawless groups as targets.
On Wednesday night, armed men fired rocket propelled
grenades on an Army detachment in Datu Anggal, Maguindanao.
Petinglay said armed men fired rifle grenades but the
soldiers returned fire which triggered an hour-long firefight until the
attackers fled.
The Army spokesperson also reminded every soldiers of the
directive issued by Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6th ID chief, to refrain from
firing their guns in welcoming the New Year.
“Our troops are barred from firing their guns
indiscriminately to welcome Christmas and New Year, even firecrackers are not
allowed,” she said.
“The instruction is even firecrackers should not be set off
because the soldiers may not notice they are subjected to attacks by lawless
elements during the revelry,” she said, adding intelligence information
gathered by the 6th ID showed lawless elements have plotted to launch series of
attacks against military detachments and checkpoints.
The 6th ID covers the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=841005
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