Sergeant hurt in Army-MILF misencounter in Maguindanao dies

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- A government trooper seriously
wounded in action when government forces and Moro rebels clashed by accident in
Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanaon on Wednesday have expired today at a military
hospital here.

Capt. Joann Petinglay, speaking for the 6th
Infantry Division, said members of the 1st Mechanized Brigade were
pursuing outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Sitio Badak,
Barangay Madia, Datu Saudi Ampatuan when they clashed with members of the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 105thbase comand.

Actually, our troops did not know they were fighting the
MILF forces because all our action against the BIFF were coordinated with the
MILF as provided for by the ceasefire mechanism,” Petinglay said.

She identified the slain soldier as Sgt. Ronilo Quimba of the
601st Reconnaisance Company.
He was wounded in Wednesday afternoon’s skirmishes with the MILF and
expired Thursday at the hospital.

Von Al Haq, MILF chair for military affairs, said the mis-encounter
occurred between 10 to 11 a.m. but the joint ceasefire panel and the international
monitors quickly intervened. The
intervention prevented the skirmishes from turning into a full blown Army-MILF
war, he said.

Al Haq said the military unintentionally stepped into the
area of MILF under 105th base commander Haon.

Our troops expanded the security radius of the dredging
project in Datu Salibo and it reached Barangay Madia,” Petinglay said.

She stressed there was no intention to attack the MILF in
Barangay Madia.

Petinglay said the GPH-MILF ceasefire mechanism has been
strengthened following the incident.

Al Haq said the ceasefire committee has been reactivated in
the area to prevent similar unfortunate incident in the future.

Al Had admitted one MILF fighter was killed and another was
wounded.

Both Al Haq and Petinglay believed the clash was incidental
and that steps are underway to avoid another misencounter.