MILF suspends 3 commanders for deadly October Basilan clash

Three field commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have been suspended for violating the ceasefire with government troops in the aftermath of the Oct. 18 skirmish in Basilan that led to the deaths of 19 elite Army soldiers and five rebels.  On Wednesday, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said in a phone interview that the three rebel commanders were suspended for three months effective Feb. 11. Iqbal said among those suspended was Dan Laksaw Asnawi, the deputy commander of the 114th Base Command. The identities of the two other MILF commanders were not immediately available. The suspension order was in compliance with the investigation conducted by the International Monitoring Team, Iqbal said. The IMT completed its probe last month.