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5 soldiers killed as gov't
troops, MILF rebels clash Fighting between government
soldiers and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels continued on its
fourth day Friday in Lanao del Norte, the site of the coming Palarong
Pambansa. The skirmishes between the two
forces broke out on Tuesday in Munai town, which left five soldiers killed,
11 wounded and two others missing. “Mula kahapon hanggang ngayon,
mayroon pang intermittent firefight doon sa may bandang Munai
area,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero, AFP public information office chief, told
a news briefing in Camp Aguinaldo. The fierce military operation in
Munai is aimed to free the area from Moro rebels to enable the Palarong
Pambansa push through in Tubod town. The athletic event was originally set on
May 4 to 11 but was rescheduled on May 18 to 25 because of the skirmishes. Lucero said the casualties in Reports reaching The gunfight took five hours
before the rebels withdraw toward unknown directions and inflicting heavy
casualties on the patroling soldiers. Last week, around 500 MILF rebels,
under Commander Bravo attacked a police and military outpost in Colambugan
and Maigo towns in Lanao del Norte which resulted in killing of 13 civilians,
three policemen and seven MILF rebels. Military authorities quickly said
the attack was prompted by the refusal of local officials and organizers of
the Palarong Pambansa to give a revolutionary tax to the rebels. Lucero said the government forces
have stepped up their operations against the secessionists in Munai town
since Tuesday’s clash. Lucero, however, could not say if
there are casualties incurred by the military or by the Moro secessionist
movement in the continuing clashes other than that reported on Tuesday. The official said the military has
monitored the movement of a MILF team in the nearby Cotabato, which, he said,
is trying to reinforce beleaguered comrades in the Munai town area. “There are MILF [rebels] from |
