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| UMBRA KATO |
By Ben Cal
MANILA,
Aug. 6 (PNA) -– Government forces Monday repulsed overnight attacks
simultaneously launched by renegade Moro rebels against government
forces in Maguindanao and North Cotabato, the Philippine Army said.
“We repulsed them,” Maj. Harold Cabunoc, Army spokesman, told the Philippines News Agency.
He was referring to the Bangsa Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM), a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
On the other hand, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles strongly condemned “the unprovoked and senseless attacks of the BIFM.”
Deles said Ustadz Carialan, BIFM chief of staff, orchestrated the attacks in Talayan, Datu Unsay, Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao; and in Midsayap in North Cotabato.
In a statement, Deles said “the attacks initiated by this lawless group during Ramadhan only demonstrate their disrespect for this holy month of our Muslim faithful, and their disregard for innocent lives that can be displaced or lost during their irrational assaults.”
“The BIFM is not part of the MILF, and thus is not covered by any ceasefire agreement,” she added.
The BIFM, formerly known as Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), is led by Ameril Umbra Kato.
Deles said that Umbra Kato, “together with his followers, was dissociated from the MILF who declared him as a ‘bougat or one who defies or does not obey an order.’”
After the MILF disowned Kato, he formed his own group who fought government forces in 2008 following the aborted signing of the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) which was declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Since then, Umbra Kato and his armed band have been pursued by the government forces for engaging in lawless actions, Deles said.
Deles said: “Definitely, our government forces are ready for necessary defensive actions to protect and ensure the welfare of communities should the perpetrators launch attacks again.
"Pursuit operations against Carialan and his men are being conducted to bring them to the bar of justice.”
She added: “This act of aggression of the BIFM is meant to derail the peace process between the government and the MILF.
"We assure the public that these incidents will not affect the substantial gains that we have carefully and persistently built with our counterparts foremost of which is the ceasefire mechanism that continues to hold on the ground and kept the peace for our communities.”
Deles also disclosed that the government and MILF peace panels will start this week their 30th formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“We remain firm in our resolve to continue engaging the MILF in the negotiation table until we are able to reach an agreement to finally resolve the conflict in Mindanao and bring peace to our people who have suffered the most,” she stressed.
Earlier, Deles expressed concern over the attacks but was relieved upon knowing that the MILF had cooperated with government forces to stop the BIFM attacks.
“Of course we are concerned,” Deles told PNA when asked for her reaction to the fighting that broke Sunday night until Monday morning.
Deles also voiced out her concern that the attacks occurred during the celebration of Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims.
“Why they (BIFM) moved (attacked) during this holy month?” Deles asked.
However, Deles was happy to note the fact that the MILF hierarchy “is cooperating” with government forces to contain the fighting.
In a related development, Cabunoc acknowledged the help extended by MILF forces under Commander Adam who deployed MILF fighters that formed a blocking force to prevent a spillover of the fighting.
He said this was a sincere gesture of cooperation between the government and MILF to further promote the peace talks to end the long-drawn Mindanao armed conflict.
He said “the areas where the fighting raged overnight are still very risky with some intermittent gunfire heard from time to time but soldiers are now conducting clearing operations.”
At the height of the fighting, BIFM fighters managed to cut-off electricity in some areas.
The rebels used chain saws to cut-off electric posts.
Cabunoc also said traffic in two major highways in these areas has been temporarily suspended as government forces are conducting clearing operations.
The BIFM fighters armed with high-powered firearms attacked the military outposts belonging to the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Maguindanao at 11:30 Sunday evening.
At the same time, the Army detachments in the towns of Datu Unsay, Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Ampatuan also came under attack.
But Cabunoc said the soldiers held their line, triggering fierce gun battles that lasted up to daybreak Monday. Troop reinforcements were sent, he added.
Apparently to distract the attention of government force, the rebels attacked the Army detachement in Salman, Ampatuan town at 6:15 this morning but the soldiers repulsed the attack.
One trooper, Corporal Romel Mantos of the 603rd Brigade was slightly wounded, Cabunoc said.
There were no reports on civilian casualties but local residents were complaining about the power outages after the rebels cut down some electric posts along the highway using chainsaws.
The local military commanders in the area are coordinating with the local officials and the police on security.
Cabunoc also said that soldiers have been deployed in strategic areas to protect the innocent civilians.
Supporting the peace process.
The local commanders of the MILF are closely coordinating with the Army in monitoring the presence of Kato's men in their respective communities.
“Commander Adan, an MILF leader in Ampatuan town has deployed his men to block the entry of BIFF members in his locality where his members are maintaining a huge tract of farmland. They didn't want the source of livelihood to be destroyed in the armed clashes,” Cabunoc said.
Cabunoc also assured that the Philippine Army will uphold the primary of the peace process now ongoing.
The Army appreciates the gestures shown by the MILF members who are very supportive in the ongoing peace negotiations,” he said.
“We repulsed them,” Maj. Harold Cabunoc, Army spokesman, told the Philippines News Agency.
He was referring to the Bangsa Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM), a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
On the other hand, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles strongly condemned “the unprovoked and senseless attacks of the BIFM.”
Deles said Ustadz Carialan, BIFM chief of staff, orchestrated the attacks in Talayan, Datu Unsay, Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao; and in Midsayap in North Cotabato.
In a statement, Deles said “the attacks initiated by this lawless group during Ramadhan only demonstrate their disrespect for this holy month of our Muslim faithful, and their disregard for innocent lives that can be displaced or lost during their irrational assaults.”
“The BIFM is not part of the MILF, and thus is not covered by any ceasefire agreement,” she added.
The BIFM, formerly known as Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), is led by Ameril Umbra Kato.
Deles said that Umbra Kato, “together with his followers, was dissociated from the MILF who declared him as a ‘bougat or one who defies or does not obey an order.’”
After the MILF disowned Kato, he formed his own group who fought government forces in 2008 following the aborted signing of the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) which was declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Since then, Umbra Kato and his armed band have been pursued by the government forces for engaging in lawless actions, Deles said.
Deles said: “Definitely, our government forces are ready for necessary defensive actions to protect and ensure the welfare of communities should the perpetrators launch attacks again.
"Pursuit operations against Carialan and his men are being conducted to bring them to the bar of justice.”
She added: “This act of aggression of the BIFM is meant to derail the peace process between the government and the MILF.
"We assure the public that these incidents will not affect the substantial gains that we have carefully and persistently built with our counterparts foremost of which is the ceasefire mechanism that continues to hold on the ground and kept the peace for our communities.”
Deles also disclosed that the government and MILF peace panels will start this week their 30th formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“We remain firm in our resolve to continue engaging the MILF in the negotiation table until we are able to reach an agreement to finally resolve the conflict in Mindanao and bring peace to our people who have suffered the most,” she stressed.
Earlier, Deles expressed concern over the attacks but was relieved upon knowing that the MILF had cooperated with government forces to stop the BIFM attacks.
“Of course we are concerned,” Deles told PNA when asked for her reaction to the fighting that broke Sunday night until Monday morning.
Deles also voiced out her concern that the attacks occurred during the celebration of Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims.
“Why they (BIFM) moved (attacked) during this holy month?” Deles asked.
However, Deles was happy to note the fact that the MILF hierarchy “is cooperating” with government forces to contain the fighting.
In a related development, Cabunoc acknowledged the help extended by MILF forces under Commander Adam who deployed MILF fighters that formed a blocking force to prevent a spillover of the fighting.
He said this was a sincere gesture of cooperation between the government and MILF to further promote the peace talks to end the long-drawn Mindanao armed conflict.
He said “the areas where the fighting raged overnight are still very risky with some intermittent gunfire heard from time to time but soldiers are now conducting clearing operations.”
At the height of the fighting, BIFM fighters managed to cut-off electricity in some areas.
The rebels used chain saws to cut-off electric posts.
Cabunoc also said traffic in two major highways in these areas has been temporarily suspended as government forces are conducting clearing operations.
The BIFM fighters armed with high-powered firearms attacked the military outposts belonging to the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Maguindanao at 11:30 Sunday evening.
At the same time, the Army detachments in the towns of Datu Unsay, Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Ampatuan also came under attack.
But Cabunoc said the soldiers held their line, triggering fierce gun battles that lasted up to daybreak Monday. Troop reinforcements were sent, he added.
Apparently to distract the attention of government force, the rebels attacked the Army detachement in Salman, Ampatuan town at 6:15 this morning but the soldiers repulsed the attack.
One trooper, Corporal Romel Mantos of the 603rd Brigade was slightly wounded, Cabunoc said.
There were no reports on civilian casualties but local residents were complaining about the power outages after the rebels cut down some electric posts along the highway using chainsaws.
The local military commanders in the area are coordinating with the local officials and the police on security.
Cabunoc also said that soldiers have been deployed in strategic areas to protect the innocent civilians.
Supporting the peace process.
The local commanders of the MILF are closely coordinating with the Army in monitoring the presence of Kato's men in their respective communities.
“Commander Adan, an MILF leader in Ampatuan town has deployed his men to block the entry of BIFF members in his locality where his members are maintaining a huge tract of farmland. They didn't want the source of livelihood to be destroyed in the armed clashes,” Cabunoc said.
Cabunoc also assured that the Philippine Army will uphold the primary of the peace process now ongoing.
The Army appreciates the gestures shown by the MILF members who are very supportive in the ongoing peace negotiations,” he said.
"Our
soldiers will always uphold the primacy of the peace process and will
try to prevent the escalation of the hostilities. We also call on the
BIFF members led by Kato, to return to the mainstream MILF and become
our partners in bringing lasting peace in their land," Cabunoc added.
(PNA)
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