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Why is gov't attacking our main forces? - MILF


MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Friday night accused the military of attacking its main forces instead of the units under Umbra Kato and Abdullah Macapaar, also known as Kumander Bravo. The two MILF commanders have been accused of leading the attacks in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato which claimed the lives of scores of civilians and soldiers. "Why is the AFP attacking the MILF main forces if its military actions are only against the Kato and Bravo's group? ... These attacks were against the MILF main forces," the MILF - quoting a "ranking official" of the General Staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) - said in a statement. The statement was posted on the MILF website. The MILF official pointed out that from August 21 to 24, the AFP had been attacking the MILF Task Force Ittihad assigned in the municipalities of Shariff Aguak and Mamasapano. Also, he said the AFP also fired at the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Elements (JCMEs) of the GRP–MILF Ceasefire Committees assigned at Barangay Lab of Shariff Aguak. Likewise, he said the AFP had employed indiscriminate air strikes, artillery and mortar shelling that had been hitting innocent Muslim civilians and their communities. In Lanao del Sur, Ahmad Lao, a member of the MILF Ceasefire Committee, chided the uncoordinated and unusual consolidation of AFP. He also questioned its movements apparently toward Butig, Lanao del Sur, wherein the satellite office of the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel is situated and the MILF Vice Chairman for Military Affairs is holding office. "The AFP is clearly and without hesitation violating the ceasefire accord," Lao said. Accordingly, two AFP battalions in full battle gear and complete with mortar assets and howitzers had been moving from different municipalities toward MILF Camp Bushra in Butig, Lanao del Sur. The MILF also said concerned local government units reported earlier that at least five civilians were already killed due to the indiscriminate attacks by the government. "More than 20,000 individuals were uprooted from their homes and their livelihood destroyed and belongings looted by the marauding soldiers. Several houses and properties were also hit by the AFP air strikes and shelling," it said. The MILF likewise questioned the appearance of hundreds of soldiers with long hair and several tattoos in their bodies, saying they "look like fugitives if not drug addicts and not soldiers." On the other hand, it said that for three days now, MILF main forces near the Liguasan marsh in the municipalities of Talitay, Talayan and Guindulungan, all of Maguindanao were heavily bombarded by air strikes and artillery shelling by the government. Forces of the 104th Base Command of the BIAF were being hit by these attacks of the AFP. Two had been wounded since the attacks were launched two days ago. MILF and civilian communities in Tawi-Tawi were also attack by the AFP Thursday. - GMANews.TV
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