|
By Julmunir I. Jannaral, Correspondent
COTABATO CITY: A municipal councilor and two others were wounded
while his bodyguard died on the spot when an undetermined number of
suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels staged an
ambush in South Upi, Maguindanao on Monday morning.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, spokesman of the
Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) based in Camp Siongco, Awang,
Maguindanao, on Tuesday identified the wounded as Councilor Jordan
Ibrahim of South Upi town. Samin Ibrahim and Kadil Kausin who
accompanied the councilor were also wounded.
The lone fatality was Ismael Alim, one of the
councilor’s bodyguards, who died on the spot due to bullet wounds
he sustained.
According to Ponce, Councilor Ibrahim who was
on-board his Land Cruiser along with his bodyguards was on the way
from Timanan to this city when they were ambushed by an undetermined
number of fully armed men believed to be MILF rebels.
Ponce said the ambush site was the vicinity of
Sitio Malibacao in Barangay Romongaob, South Upi.
The Army regional spokesman said this latest
ambush on the civilians is a clear indication that the MILF is now
going off track what they are fighting for.
“These rogue MILF rebels are going wild to the
extent of targeting the hapless civilians who were no match with
their firepower,” Ponce said.
He also urged the MILF hierarchy to give
disciplinary actions to their erring and abusing field commanders
and followers from perpetrating further atrocities.
However, as a rejoinder to the military’s
accusation, MILF senior leader and spokesman Eid Kabalu said the
actions taken by the Moro rebel field commanders and followers which
the Army labeled as “rogue-type of guerrillas” are not at all
sanctioned by the MILF hierarchy.
Kabalu said the MILF Central Committee chaired
by Al Haj Murad Ebrahim has standing orders to target only the
legitimate enemies of the liberation front when provoked.
He said the MILF as an organization still
adheres to the cessation of hostilities and would only fire back if
fired upon as a matter of self-defense.
“We will see to it that we are on the
defensive stance and not on offensive even in our quest for the
Bangsamoro peoples’ right to self-determination,” Kabalu said.
“The civilians in Maguindanao are not our
enemies and therefore they are not our targets,” Kabalu further
emphasized.
|
