Lanao Norte ambush kills three, injures three others

Zamboanga City–Suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels yesterday killed three government security forces in an ambush in the Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte.

Three other soldiers under the military’s 5th Infantry Battalion were wounded, Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesperson of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

The attack occurred amid reports that 150 men believed to be MILF rebels occupied two schools in Talusan town in Zamboanga Sibugay last Saturday.

Troops headed by Lt. Col. Bagnun Gearlan were heading to the nearby town of Malabang, Lanao del Sur, when they were ambushed 11:15 a.m. along the highway in the village of Payong, Sultan Naga Dimaporo.

Three of Gearlan’s men were killed while three others were wounded, Cabangbang said.   The attackers later fled towards the village shoreline.

“We are still trying to figure out if MILF rebels perpetrated the attacks,” Cabangbang said.

Von Al Haq, spokesman for the rebel group, denied their forces’ involvement in the latest assault against government troops.

“We are investigating. But as of yesterday (Saturday), the directive to all our forces on the ground is to maintain our defensive position,” he said.  Last Oct. 21, seven troops were killed in three ambushes perpetrated by Moro rebels in Zamboanga Sibugay.

At least 19 soldiers were also killed by MILF fighters in an ambush they staged in the town of Al Barka in Basilan province on Oct. 19.

Meanwhile Senior Supt. Ruben Cariaga, police chief for Zamboanga Sibugay, said the armed men who occupied the two schools were “from Cotabato City and were led by a certain MILF commander Said.”

Cariaga said the armed men were supposed to augment MILF forces in Payao town.

He said Said’s group destroyed some parts of the Samonte Elementary School and took some rice and two cows from villagers before transferring to the adjacent village of Bulingan where they occupied the Bulingan Elementary School.    Cariaga said the military is verifying if the armed men are still in barangay Bulingan. Inquirer