(Editor’s note: We updated this report after the military announced that the encounter occurred between its troops and an armed lawless group. The PRO-BAR earlier reported the clash was between MILF factions.)
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 19 October) – The Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) said that “seven armed lawless elements (LLEs) were killed” in an encounter with military forces, contrary to a report from the Police Regional Office – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) that the clash was between rival factions of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
In a press release issued at 4:23 p.m. on Saturday, October 19, Lt. Gen William Gonzales, WestMinCom commander, said that military forces clashed with the LLEs Friday afternoon, October 18, in the seawaters of Bongo Island, Parang in Maguindanao del Norte.
He said the combined troops of Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 (MBLT-2) and 65th Force Reconnaissance Company (65th FRC) encountered an undetermined number of armed men, believed to be followers of a certain Paradise, who were aboard 12 motorized boats.
Gonzales said the MBLT-2 and 65th FRC troops clashed with the armed men while they were conducting maritime security patrol in the vicinity, in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), at 1:56 p.m. that day.
The exchange of firefight resulted in the death of “seven armed men,” three of whom were recovered “while the four others sunk and were lost at sea,” Gonzales said.
He said that a soldier was wounded and immediately brought to the Camp Siongco Station Hospital in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte for treatment.
Gonzales said the troops recovered one crew-served weapon (M-60 light machine gun) with ammunition and empty shells of such firearm.
“Our troops are doing their best to seize the fleeing lawless elements. While doing so, other efforts are taken into consideration to smoothen the process as we want these unlawful personalities to face appropriate criminal charges,” Gonzales said.
He, however, did not identify the group to which the armed men belong.
Gonzales’ report was different from that issued by the PRO-BAR earlier, which said that a fierce firefight between factions of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Bongo Island, Parang in Maguindanao del Norte left at least four people dead.
Brigadier General Romeo Macapaz, PRO-BAR director, said the encounter erupted Friday morning, October 18, in Barangay Tuca Maror between the groups of Tamano Aragasi and the individuals identified only as Commanders Macmod and Paradise.
“As of now, four bodies have been recovered,” said Macapaz, adding they are members of Commander Paradise’s group.
He said that authorities are still searching for three other dead persons believed to have drowned during the intense firefight in the coastal area.
Police authorities recovered high-powered firearms, hand-held radios, ammunition, and MILF uniforms from the clash site. (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)
