Sarangani gov vows to pursue group that attacked Maasim

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines – Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez has vowed to pursue the attackers and bring to justice the group that staged a dawn attack in Maasim Monday that led to the killing of two civilians and the wounding of another. In a press statement issued to media today, Governor Dominguez said that he was appalled at the “brazenness" and “treachery" of the armed attack at the Maasim town. “No amount of justification could placate the families of our dead and sooth the anxiety and fear of residents who have lived in peace and harmony throughout the years," he said in a statement. Dominguez stressed while the provincial government will remain steadfast in its quest for peace but “it will not cower in fear in the face of open challenges." He already ordered the local PNP and the Army in the area to pursue the attackers, which, reports said, were members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). “Let me assure the residents of Maasim and in Sarangani that the local government units will continue to protect your lives and properties," he told his constituents in a statement. Around 5 a.m, Monday, two civilians were killed when suspected MILF rebels attacked the public market of Maasim, reports from the police in central Mindanao said. Police regional director Felizardo Serapio said the suspects arrived at the town’s public market around 5 a.m., emptied vending stalls of grocery items and meat and vegetables and attempted to set the building on fire. Serapio said Sarangani police engaged the raiders in a brief firefight, wounding at least five of them. Another group of MILF rebels attacked an Army detachment nearby as they exited the town. Commander Adan Abdulla of the 106th Brigade of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the MILF’s armed wing, denied it was his group that led the attack in Maasim. “There was no order to attack the town," said Abdulla in a radio interview. MILF civil military affairs chief Eid Kabalu hinted the attack could be part of a grand design to put the Front in a bad light. “We know there are other groups opposed to the peace process and conducting sabotage operations," said Kabalu. The attack in Maasim was preceded by a firefight between former Moro rebels and government troops in Lake Sebu , South Cotabato , last Sunday. Reports from the South Cotabato Provincial Social Welfare Office said the skirmishes led to the evacuation of some 400 residents in the area to prevent from being caught in the crossfires. In Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, residents of Barangay Sangay and Obial reported the massing anew of MILF rebels since Sunday. The villages of Sangay and Obial were once occupied by MILF rebels, three months ago. But Army Col. Julieto Ando, chief of the 6th ID’s civil military operations, said the brewing tension in the two barangays was rooted to a long standing land conflict. The Army, however, had already sent contingent in the area to prevent any intrusion of MILF rebels in the area. - Malu Cadelina Manar, GMANNews.TV