COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 10, 2008) – Suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front soldiers attacked Thursday a group of farmers in the southern Philippines, sparking a brief fire fight between rebels and pro-government militias, officials said.
Officials said about 20 MILF fighters opened fire on the farmers as they were harvesting rice in the village called Malamuti in Matalam town in North Cotabato province.
Patrolling militias who heard the gunfire clashed with the rebels, engaging them in a running gun battle that lasted more than 10 minutes, said Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
“There were no reports of casualties in the MILF attack or in the clashes, but this attack on civilians is a clear violation of the cease-fire agreement,” Ando told Mindanao Examiner.
Ando said the motive of the attack is still unknown. “But rebels had been harassing farmers in the area, especially during harvest time,” he said.
The MILF did not give any statement about the military’s claim.
The rebel attack came a day after unidentified men exploded a grenade at a police station in the town of Maasin in Sarangani province.
No group or individual claimed responsibility for the grenade attack, but the province is a known lair of the New People’s Army rebels who are allied with the MILF.
Officials said about 20 MILF fighters opened fire on the farmers as they were harvesting rice in the village called Malamuti in Matalam town in North Cotabato province.
Patrolling militias who heard the gunfire clashed with the rebels, engaging them in a running gun battle that lasted more than 10 minutes, said Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
“There were no reports of casualties in the MILF attack or in the clashes, but this attack on civilians is a clear violation of the cease-fire agreement,” Ando told Mindanao Examiner.
Ando said the motive of the attack is still unknown. “But rebels had been harassing farmers in the area, especially during harvest time,” he said.
The MILF did not give any statement about the military’s claim.
The rebel attack came a day after unidentified men exploded a grenade at a police station in the town of Maasin in Sarangani province.
No group or individual claimed responsibility for the grenade attack, but the province is a known lair of the New People’s Army rebels who are allied with the MILF.
Both groups are fighting for the establishments of their own state – a Maoist for the NPA and an Islamic government for the MILF - in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
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