MILF attacks 3 Maguindanao towns

Moro rebels attacked the towns of Talayan, Datu Piang and Sharriff Aguak in Maguindanao province late Tuesday, the military said Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Lupito Aceres, 37th Infantry Battalion commander, said at least 1,000 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels attacked Sitio Panang in Barangay Lower Salbo, Datu Piang town, and burned 36 houses. Local officials owned two of the houses.

Aceres said government forces repelled the attack and killed two rebels in the ensuing firefight.

The military temporarily closed the Cotabato-Isulan highway.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu confirmed that the MILF attacked soldiers in three towns.

Paul Palacio, ABS-CBN Regional Network Group