NEWSFLASH

7 DEAD IN MILF ATTACK ON GOVT TROOPS IN COTABATO

Cotabato City, Feb. 1, 2000 - Seven Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were killed while three government soldiers were wounded in a gunbattle Sunday following an MILF attack on government troopers in Carmen, Northern Cotabato

Maj. Gen. Gregorio Camiling Jr., commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said elements of the 64th Infantry Battalion and the Army's Scout Rangers Battalion are now in hot pursuit of the rebels. The ground troops are supported by Air Force MG-520 attack helicopters.

Rep. Anthony Dequina (North Cotabato), defense and security committee chairman in the House of Representatives, warned that the fighting could escalate and affect the civilian population of Carmen and Magpet. The area was the scene of the first major battle between the MILF and the government forces in 1971.

Meanwhile, the MILF came under attack from local officials of the three Central Mindanao provinces - Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat who have condemned the rebel group for atrocities committed against civilian communities in the region.

Governors Zacaria Candao and Emmanuel Pinol of Maguindanao and North Cotabato denounced the MILF in resolutions and manifestos they presented to Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Angelo T. Reyes at Camp Siongco in Cotabato City last week.

"In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Benevolent, we hereby jointly condemn all the atrocious activities committed by the MILF forces against the peace-loving Filipino people in Mindanao, that hampered the economic progress, development, and security of the province," stated a written manifesto Governor Candao signed with 18 of the 20 municipal mayors of Maguindanao province.

The acts referred to by the local officials, which happened in December and January, were the burning of houses and killing of civilians by suspected MILF members in Shariff Aguak town, the forcible closure of the national highway in Labu-Labu town, and the occupation of the Talayan town hall by some 100 MILF armed members.

The Maguindanao officials said the MILF-initiated activities were clear manifestations of undermining the duly constituted authorities. "The looting and destruction of government properties at the Talayan Hall deprived the populace of the basic services due them" the resolution added.

Governor Pinol also conveyed the sentiment of the 19 town mayors of the province against the hostage-taking by MILF elements of civilians in M'lang town and the continued harassment of farmers by MILF forces in Carmen town.