700 MILF fighters join gov’t’s anti-drugs campaign in Cotabato

From GMA News (Oct 6): 700 MILF fighters join gov’t’s anti-drugs campaign in Cotabato

Once enemies on the battlefield, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have joined forces to do combat, this time in the government's war against drugs.

The troops of MILF and AFP, despite the unsealed peace deal between them, are tasked to go after groups behind the proliferation of narcotics in Central Mindanao.

 “There are 746 Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) mostly from 118th MILF Base Command helping us in tracking these enemy armed groups hiding in Liguasan Marsh," said Colonel Noly Samarita, commander of the 602nd Brigade based in Carmen, Cotabato, on Wednesday.

Samarita is referring to the group of Moks Masgal alias Commander Madrox who heads a lost command group dealing in illegal activities, including the narco trade.

 Government troops launched a bigtime operation against the group of Madrox on August 14 but failed to arrest him.

The troops' movements were detected, and an ambush was staged, resulting in the death of three soldiers and the target’s group escape to the marshland of Liguasan at the border of Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces.

 “The troops came back today bigtime, this time with MILF troopers and we were successful to arrest one of the suspects of the ambush, the son of Madrox, early morning today,” Samarita added.

 He identified the suspect as Kamarudin Masgal, 21. He was arrested at the old house of the main suspect together with nine individuals now being investigated for drug use and trading which others admitted. They are followers of Kumander Madrox.

 Samarita said Kamarudin is one of the suspects behind the ambush that killed government troopers.

The manhunt continues as of posting time, forcing joint forces to navigate the vast area of Liguasan Marsh at night using boats to identify the possible location of the target.

 The operation is dubbed as a “confidence operation versus illegal drugs,” according to Samarita.

The MILF’s military spokesperson said they would issue an official statement in the next few hours.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/584002/news/regions/700-milf-fighters-join-gov-t-s-anti-drugs-campaign-in-cotabato