KORONADAL CITY, Philippines?Armed T?boli natives killed five Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, including a field commander, during a clash in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, police said yesterday.
Senior Supt. Robert Kiunisala, South Cotabato police chief, told the Inquirer the T?boli were guarding Sitio Kitae in Barangay Ned when they noticed an approaching group of MILF rebels around 5 p.m. on Friday.
Kiunisala said no policemen or soldiers were assigned to the village. He denied the military had armed the native tribesmen.
?The inhabitants there armed themselves to protect their village from attacks,? he said.
There were no reported casualties on the side of the T?boli during the 30-minute clash, he said.
Kiunisala identified the slain MILF leader as Commander Lumontod, reportedly under the MILF 107th Base Command based in Palimbang, in neighboring Sultan Kudarat.
Meanwhile, in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao, soldiers clashed on Friday with MILF rebels under the elusive Ustadz Ameril Ombra Kato, according to the military.
Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, Eastern Mindanao command deputy spokesperson, told the Inquirer soldiers clashed with around 30 followers of Kato in Barangay Gawang around 4 p.m. during clearing operations.
Cabangbang said there were no reported casualties in the two-hour clash but soldiers recovered a rocket-propelled grenade and ammunition for an M-14 rifle. There were also personal belongings recovered, he said.
Government forces, out to arrest Kato for various offenses, are sweeping known bailiwicks of the notorious Moro leader,? Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesperson of the Army?s 6th Infantry Division, said.
In Davao City, Moro groups, on the other hand, said they feared soldiers would take advantage of the upcoming Ramadan to step up their attacks against the MILF.
Amirah Ali Lidasan, president of Suara Bangsamoro, said Moro groups were worried because civilian communities were always affected by the fighting. Jeoffrey Maitem, Aquiles Zonio and Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao
