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ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
urged Manila to investigate accusations that government troops
killed innocent civilians during a military operation in the
southern island of Sulu.
Seven Muslims, among them two
children and two teenagers, including a pregnant woman and an
off-duty soldier, were killed at dawn Monday in the fishing village
of Ipil in Maimbung town during a military raid on a suspected Abu
Sayyaf hideout.
“This sad incident should be
investigated properly. Finding the truth is very important in this
investigation so that justice may prevail,” Eid Kabalu, an MILF
spokesman, told The Manila Times.
The military said two soldiers
and three militants were also killed in the clash, but security
officials ordered a probe into the slaying of the civilians. Some of
those killed were shot in the head at close range, families and
relatives of the victims said.
Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael, commander
of an anti-terror task force in Sulu province, said the fighting in
the town was a legitimate encounter.
Security officials said troops
were tracking down a kidnapped trader Rosalie Lao in the town when
they clashed with alleged Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiah militants
in the village of Ipil where the eight bodies had been found later
in the day.
A village leader, Rahsi Agas, had
accused troops of killing the civilians. “They were just seaweed
farmers and not members of the Abu Sayyaf,” he said.
He said some of those killed were
shot at sea while trying to escape the fighting on boat. The
soldiers who raided the village were members of the Army’s Light
Reaction Company, trained by US forces, and Navy’s Special Warfare
Group.
Survivors of the carnage said
troops had attacked them, firing automatic weapons and rifle
grenades, as they fled to safety in the dark. The soldiers were part
of a specialized unit of the military.
Provincial government officials,
led by Gov. Sakur Tan, condemned the killings of the civilians and
said the perpetrators must be held to account. “We will not
tolerate this and justice should prevail. The perpetrators of these
dastardly act must be punished and pay for their crimes,” he said.
Flags in the southern province
were flown at half-staff since Tuesday to mourn the death of the
civilians.
The Provincial Legislative
Council also passed a resolution condemning the killings.
Those killed were identified as
Marisa Payian, 4; Wedme Lahim, 9; Alnalyn Lahim, 15; Sulayman Hakob,
17; Kirah Lahim, 45; Eldisim Lahim, 43; Narcia Abon, 24; all
civilians and Pfc. Ibnul Wahid, of the Army’s 6th Infantry
Division.
The human rights group, Suara
Bangsamoro, also condemned the killings and urged Congress and the
Senate to investigate the incident. The Commission on Human Rights
sent a team of investigators to Sulu to probe the killings of the
civilians.
--Al Jacinto
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