12 MILF REBELS KILLED IN COTABATO CLASH

Zamboanga City, April 7, 2003 -- Twelve Moro Islamic Liberation Front

guerrillas were killed in a clash on Saturday with security forces in

M'lang town in North Cotabato, the military said yesterday.

 

The Army's 6th Infantry Division said a firefight broke out around 9:45

a.m. in Sitio Ipol, Barangay New Antique, when members of the 39th Infantry

Battalion on patrol chanced upon an undetermined number of MILF fighters

led by Commanders Hadji Faisal and Salidatan.

 

The military said the guerrillas withdrew around 2 p.m. after suffering

heavy casualties.

 

There were no reported casualties on the side of the military, reports said.

 

The soldiers recovered two rocket-propelled grenades.

 

Yesterday, members of the 37th Infantry Battalion clashed with another

group of MILF rebels at Barangay Kitango in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao.

 

Reports said the soldiers, backed up by militiamen, exchanged fire with the

rebels for at least hour hours.

 

No casualties were reported on both sides.

 

Also yesterday, MILF guerrillas attacked a military detachment inside the

former rebel camp at the Buliok complex in North Cotabato. A soldier and

three militiamen were wounded. (Al Jacinto PHNO Mindanao Bureau)