MILF commander slain in Maguindanao clash -- military
By LERIO BOMPAT, ABS-CBN Cotabato | 11/19/2008 2:48 PM
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A Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander was killed in a three-day military offensive in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao province, the military claimed Wednesday.
The military said MILF Commander Sahid Lintang and several other separatist fighters were killed by its forces in Barangay Tina.
Col. Marlou Salazar, commander of the 601st Special Forces Brigade, said the clashes started Monday after his men encountered the group of MILF members identified as Wahid Tondoc and Boni Ayuan in the same village.
Tondoc is the operations officer of the MILF's 105th Brigade, led by Ameril Umbra Kato.
Salazar said his group surrounded the village and engaged the rebels in fierce firefights that ended Wednesday. He said troopers were still scouring the village.
Recovered by the military at the village were at least 12 improvised explosive device components, a 1.30 caliber, nine rocket-propelled grenades, four M14 rifles, a machine gun, an M-16 rifle and different types of ammunitions.
Meanwhile, at least 800 residents left their homes after the military bombarded a hamlet in Maluso town in Basilan on Tuesday.
Commodore Alex Pama, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao Combined, said they shelled Sitio Malvar in Barangay Upper Mahayahay with mortars due to the presence of 200 suspected MILF fighters.
Pama said the bombardment was meant to push the rebels away from the hamlet. He said the strike was requested by Maluso officials and residents. With a report from Leila Vicente, ABS-CBN Zamboanga
