Army belies MILF claim of attack on rebels in Maguindanao-Sultan Kudarat border

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao, July 6 – The Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade has denied it launched offensives along with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) against forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the Maguindanao-Sultan Kudarat border.

“These allegations were baseless, unfounded and out to discredit the military,” Brig. Gen. Ernesto Aradanas, 603rd brigade chief, said to belie claims of MILF spokesperson Von Al-Haq.

Al-Haq said that the peacekeeping force sent by the military to separate warring armed groups in Barangay Laguitan, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao joined the forces of MNLF commander Randy Karon and attacked MILF forces under commander Jing Caludtiag in Barangay Laguitan.

Laguitan is the last barangay of Maguindanao next to Barangay Tran in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.

Both forces have been trading bullets since last year over a large parcel of productive lands in Barangay Laguitan.

The armed conflict involving Caludtiag and Karon’s men has resulted in the displacement of some 20,000 civilians in Datu Blah Sinsuat town and Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.

“This is a long standing rido between two local commanders,” Aradanas said, adding that he deployed peacekeeping forces from the Army’s 6th Infantry Battalion.

On Monday, representatives of both sides agreed to Army-initiated dialogues that they will free Barangay Laguitan of armed men.

“But later in the day, about 50 MILF forces landed in the coastal Barangay Laguitan and traded bullets with MNLF and Army forces stationed nearby,” Aradanas said.

“We are not siding with anybody, our troops there are peacekeepers, if any group violates local arrangements, the Army will attack them,” Aradanas warned.

He gave the MILF forces in Barangay Laguitan until Wednesday morning to vacate the village.

“Otherwise, the Army will enforce its mandate, the entry of MILF in the village in the first place is a violation of the existing GRP-MILF ceasefire agreement,” he said. (PNA)

LAP/NYP/EOF

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