1 hurt as MILF rebels strafe Maguindanao village official's house
Local News • 21:15 PM Wed Dec 31, 2015
1,170
By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
COTABATO CITY – A woman was hurt and several families have fled
to safer grounds after hundreds of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
guerillas harassed and strafed the house of a village official in Talitay,
Maguindanao Tuesday afternoon, a local official said today.
Talitay Vice Mayor Allan Sabal told DXMS Radyo Bida that about
500 heavily armed MILF fired at the house of Village Councilor Madimuda
Manibpel at past 11 a.m.
We heard explosions, gun burst and M-79 grenade explosion,”
Sabal said, adding that his house was few blocks away from the house of
Manibpel.
Nobody was hurt in the family of Manibpel but a woman from Sitio
Watamama, Barangay Gadungan, Talitay was hit by stray bullet on her leg. She was rushed to the Cotabato Regional and
Medical Center in Cotabato City.
Sabal said the attackers were all members of the 105th
base command of the MILF under the leadership of Commanders Howl, Commander
Gapur, Commander AButalwa and Commander Ali.
When the attackers left, Sabal said he went to see Manibpel who
told him that he was having lunch with his family when the gunmen arrived and
without provocation opened fire.
He quoted Manibpel as saying that they immediately sought cover and
firing lasted for about 20 minutes.
Afraid of further armed conflict, an undetermined number of
families from the villages of Mangay, Poblacion, and Gadungan fled to nearby
town of Datu Anggal and the Talitay town center.
Sabal said he already informed the MILF leadership about harassment.
Von Al Haq, MILF vice chair for military affairs, said an
emissary had been sent by MILF chair Al Haj Murad to prevent the 105th
base command from leaving its camp.
Al Haq said the conflict could have been triggered by family
feud involving MILF members and the village official. He added a probe team has been formed and a
directive for a ceasefire had been issued.