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Friday, July 13, 2007
Gov't, MILF probe cause of Basilan clash
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Philippine and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officials are investigating the clash that killed 14 Marine troops and three rebels in Basilan Province.
Presidential peace process adviser Jesus Dureza said he would do everything to ensure that government's peace talks with the separatist rebel group would not be hampered by the incident.
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The MILF admits it was their troops that clashed with government forces looking for abducted Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi but denied beheading 10 of the 14 Marines who died in the encounter.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu, in a telephone interview, said they are investigating the incident because it is against the Moro group's policies and guidelines to behead enemies.
Islam, according to the MILF, prohibits mutilation or commission of any atrocity against a fallen enemy.
In Manila, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commiserates with the families of the fallen soldiers and condemns the attack on the Marines and the beheading.
Ermita said while some might view discussions of the clash with the ceasefire committee and peace negotiation panel as "soft", they should know that Army and Marine troops are conducting a parallel action of pursuing those those behind the beheading.
The heads of the Committee on the Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) panels--Brigadier General Edgardo Gurrea for government and Von Al Haq for the MILF--have flown to Basilan to lead the inquiry into the incident, according to Dureza.
"They are on the ground together with the IMT (International Monitoring Team)," Dureza said Thursday.
First Marine Brigade chief Colonel Ramiro Alivio said the gun battle erupted Tuesday when Marine forces returning to their base fought back Abu Sayyaf bandits allegedly backed by MILF rebels who ambushed them in Barangay Ginanta, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.
The Marines were checking the veracity of reports that Bossi and his abductors were sighted in the hinterlands of Tipo-Tipo town.
Fourteen Marines and three bandits were slain in the clash that lasted from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The MILF, however, admits its forces encountered the government troops but denied that there were Abu Sayyaf bandits among the rebel group. It said the Marines had attacked an MILF stronghold and rebel forces fought back.
MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal earlier said the military violated a ceasefire agreement by entering an MILF territory without prior coordination.
Dureza nevertheless said the non-coordination should not have been taken as a "go signal" for the two sides to clash.
He added that an investigation would be conducted and they would verify the reported presence of top Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon among the MILF forces.
Hapilon is the remaining top Abu Sayyaf leader wanted by the US government. There is a reward of US$5 million for his neutralization.
Dureza said the investigation would determine who beheaded the 10 Marines, whose remains were recovered Wednesday.
Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 Chief Felix Almadrones, whose forces figured in the gun battle, said Thursday that the fighting had ceased and tension had eased. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (July 13, 2007 issue)
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