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Philippines War Against MILF Continues
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA (IslamOnline) - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) accused the Philippines government of not being sincere in its attempts to bring peace in the Southern Philippines.
Its claim seems to have been proven true with Sunday’s attacks by the Filipino army against a suspected MILF camp.
The military said at least 10 members of the MILF were killed in fierce fighting and bombardment of Camp Bushra, which it recaptured. The MILF, however, disputed that report and said the military had suffered at least 22 casualties. The claims could not be independently verified.
Camp Bushra, located in the hinterlands of Butig town in Lanao del Sur province, was the MILF's main training ground until it was overran by the military in late May during a government offensive against guerrilla camps in the southern Mindanao region.
The MILF then attempted to re-establish smaller camps in the area, the military said. The MILF claimed it was no more interested in camps as these were increasingly becoming targets of the Filipino army. They shifted their strategy from a defensive one to guerilla tactics, which seem to have born fruits, report says.
The same report indicated that Filipino army ground troops were able to retake the camp Saturday after pounding it with 105mm howitzer cannons.
"The rebel defense line was weakened by the heavy bombardment, which forced them to abandon the camp," military Southern Command spokesman Colonel Hilario Atendido said.
He said intercepted enemy radio messages indicated many MILF members had been killed or wounded in the shelling.
"There were bloodstains all over the place. Soldiers destroyed bunkers and running trenches and recovered much ammunition," he said.
In a separate incident, and what could be in retaliation to the army attack on the training camp in nearby Maguindanao province, a group of MILF members ambushed a military truck transporting soldiers in the town of Talayan, Atendido said.
At least four soldiers were wounded.
The MILF fired automatic rifles and small rockets at the soldiers, who retaliated, forcing the ambushers to retreat into the hills, Atendido said.
Army spokesmen said troops began a massive offensive last Monday, pounding with artillery the MILF camp at Bushra.
Running gun battles had raged for the past five days with the separatists abandoning the camp after securing their safety passage.
"Troops shelled and assaulted the place and eventually occupied again the area from MILF forces."
Atendido said scout rangers penetrated the MILF's main position by late Saturday after seven hours of bombardment.
Recovered from the site were rounds of ammunition and assorted firearms, including anti-tank rockets and machine guns, he said.
The MILF did not confirm the loss of the camp.
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