COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 18, 2009) – Government troops clashed with Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in the troubled region of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, officials said on Wednesday.
The fighting erupted on Tuesday afternoon in the town of Datu Piang in Maguindanao, one of six provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. The clash broke out after troops caught up with some 50 rebels headed by Commander Rambo in the village of Andavit.
There were no reports of casualties from both sides, but officials said government soldiers recovered a small cache of weapons left behind by retreating MILF gunmen.
Officials said among the weapons recovered were mortar bombs and anti-tank rockets.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, a spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the soldiers were in the area to check on the presence of gunmen. “Villagers reported to the military about the presence of gunmen and soldiers were sent to the area, but they were attacked by the armed group,” he said.
The MILF is the country’s largest Muslim rebel group which is fighting for self-determination in Mindanao. Manila suspended peace talks with the MILF after rebel forces attacked civilian targets in Mindanao over the failed Muslim homeland deal in August last year.
Since then, sporadic fighting continues in many parts of the region and the military blamed the MILF for the spate of bombings in the southern Philippines, an accusation that rebel leaders strongly denied. (Mindanao Examiner)
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