Moro rebels attack marine post in Sulu, claim bombing in Cotabato

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / October 5, 2009) – Suspected Moro rebels attacked a marine post Monday in the southern Filipino province of Sulu where fighting had killed dozens of gunmen and soldiers in recent weeks.

A regional military commander, Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, said rebels fired mortar bombs into the post of the 311th Marine Company in the village of Bitan-ag in Panamao town.

“There were no casualties, but our operations are ongoing in Sulu against lawless elements,” Dolorfino said in an interview.

A rebel leader, Madarang Sali, deputy supreme commander of the shadowy group called Bangsamoro National Liberation Army, said the fighting erupted after military forces shelled the stronghold of the Moro National Liberation Front.

“The military started the offensive and fired cannons targeting MNLF forces in Sulu,” he said in a statement to the independent regional newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner.

Sali warned of more bloodshed and renewed threats to bomb military and civilian targets in the country in retaliation to government offensive in Sulu, one of five provinces in the troubled Muslim autonomous region.

“We have special units in Mindanao and we will target you all,” he said, adding they have declared holy war against the Arroyo government and that they are fighting for the freedom of the Bangsamoro people, referring to the local Muslims.

“We need to make a sacrifice even with our own lives to regain the independence of the Bangsamoro people,” Sali said.

Fighting in Sulu the past weeks have already killed at least 34 rebels and a dozen soldiers, including two members of the US Special Forces who were helping the Philippine military in defeating terrorism.

Sali’s group had claimed responsibility for the September 29 roadside bombing that killed US soldiers Sergeant First Class Christopher D. Shaw of Markham, Illinois, 37; and Staff Sergeant Jack M. Martin III of Bethany, Oklahoma, 26, in Indanan town.

Sali said only 10 MNLF rebels were killed in the fighting in Sulu, denying military claims that 34 gunmen had died from the clashes, although security officials claimed only two bodies had been recovered by soldiers.

He also accused US forces of participating in military operations in Sulu and warned that attacks on American troops would continue.

Local authorities said they have stepped up security because of threats of attacks by rebel forces. Zamboanga City, which had been previously bombed by Abu Sayyaf militants, is currently celebrating the weeklong Hermosa Festival in honor of the Virgin Mary locally known as “Our Lady of the Pilar,” its patron saint.

A homemade bomb exploded on Monday in Cotabato City in Mindanao Island, although no casualties had been reported. Sali has claimed responsibility for the latest blast, saying, it was carried out by a special unit of the BNLA’s 1st Battalion.

Security officials said the bomb exploded at around 7.45 a.m. near downtown Cotabato.

“There were no reports of injuries or casualties and we are still investigating the motive and who was behind the bombing,” said Colonel Jonathan Ponce, a spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

“The bomber may have failed to sneak the improvised explosive device into downtown Cotabato because of the presence of troops guarding checkpoints around Cotabato and just left the bomb to explode at a vacant lot in the village called Rosary Heights,” Ponce said.

Ponce said the bomb was designed to kill. “The design of the IED was meant to kill,” he said, adding, soldiers have recovered nails and broken parts of a cellular phone believed used to trigger explosion from the blast site.

He said the explosive was similar to those being used by Moro rebels in previous attacks in Mindanao.

The bombing came a day after BNLA rebels warned of impending attacks in civilian targets. Sali said the bombing was only a warning of bigger attacks to come.

Sali’s claims cannot be independently confirmed.

The MNLF signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996, but many of its members were disgruntled with the accord and accused the government of failing to uplift their living standards or bring developments in Muslim areas. (With a report from Geo Solmerano)

Police post attacked in South RP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 29, 2009) – Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants attacked a police post Tuesday in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, where security forces are battling the group blamed for the spate of terrorism in the restive region, officials told the Mindanao Examiner.

Police said an improvised explosive was used in the attack in the village of Kasanyangan, but there were no reports of casualties. “This is the handiwork of the Abu Sayyaf. We have tightened security in the villages to prevent future attacks,” said Chief Inspector Usman Pingay, commander of police forces in the capital town of Jolo.

He said the explosion occurred at around 10.30 a.m. and targeted the command post of the Regional Mobile Group. The attack occurred three days after policemen killed an Abu Sayyaf militant, Karim Juldani, and captured another Albashir Adjili, in a firefight in Jolo town.

The two, Pingay said, were trying to sneak into Jolo when policemen stopped them near a checkpoint. He said police seized weapons from the two men.

Pingay ordered additional checkpoints around the town and appealed to citizens to stay vigilant and report to the police or military suspicious persons in their area.

“We must defeat terrorism. Citizens should stay vigilant,” he said.

The attack occurred just as troops continue their operation against the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya militants tagged as behind the series of bomb attacks and kidnappings for ransom in Sulu, one of five provinces under the troubled Muslim autonomous region.

Fighting in Sulu between troops and militants had killed 42 people, including eight marines who were ambushed by the Abu Sayyaf in Indanan town last week. Nine soldiers were also wounded in the attack.

The Moro National Liberation Front, which signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996, accused the military of attacking its forces in Sulu’s Indanan town. It said troops shelled one of its camps, killing two of its members and wounding 8 more.

The military’s Western Mindanao Command denied the accusations and said the offensive targeted the militant groups – the Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiya – adding, two of its feared terror leaders Mauiya and Quayem are being protected by the Abu Sayyaf.

Madarang Sali, deputy supreme commander of the Bangsamoro National Liberation Front, said military offensive against the MNLF still continues in Sulu. “Up to this time, the military offensive is going on,” he said on Tuesday.

He said government operations were directed as MNLF leader Khaid Ajibunm who had escaped a military raid last week. (With a report from Geo Solmerano)

Rebels attack marines post in Southern Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 26, 2009) – Gunmen attacked a marine detachment in the southern Philippine province of Sulu where troops are battling Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya militants, officials said on Saturday.

Officials said the marines repulsed the attack which occurred late Friday in the village of Bato-Bato in Indanan town, scene of last week’s fierce clashes that left 34 militants and eight soldiers dead.

“Our marines repulsed the attack. No casualties were reported on either side,” said Marine Major Ramon David Hontiveros, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command headquarters in Zamboanga City.

Hontiveros did not say who were behind the attack, but the town is a stronghold of Moro National Liberation Front rebels who aided Abu Sayyaf forces in last week’s clashes.

The MNLF accused the military of targeting them in the guise of pursuing the Abu Sayyaf in Indanan town.

It said security forces shelled their camp on September 20, although there were no reports of casualties. The military attack coincided with the Eid festival which signals the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

A Moro rebel leader, Madarang Sali, deputy supreme commander of the Bangsamoro National Liberation Front, said the military offensive targeted a stronghold of Khaid Ajibun, a senior leader of the MNLF in Camp Marang near the village of Talibang.

“The Muslims are celebrating the Hari Raya, but what greeted us are bombings from military aircrafts,” he said.

Sali accused the military of terrorizing the Muslims in Sulu, an accusation strongly denied by the armed forces.

“The Bangsamoro National Liberation Army declares publicly and calls and manifests our Islamic solidarity behind our brothers-in-Islam and to support the declaration of Jihad against the Philippine Government and Armed Forces of the Philippines for the restoration of sovereign states of the Bangsamoro Homeland. There are no terrorists in our homeland, but we are being terrorized by Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.

The MNLF signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996, but many of its members were disgruntled by the agreement and accusing the government of failing to honor the provisions of the accord.

Under the peace agreement, Manila would have to provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.

Many of its members have either joined the Abu Sayyaf or Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group which is fighting the past three decades for self-determination. (Mindanao Examiner)