MILF landmine hurts troops in Cotabato

By BONG GARCIA JR.
TODAY Correspondent

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Four Marines were wounded when they stepped on a land mine Tuesday morning in the hinterlands of North Cotabato while the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in Maguindanao claimed to have killed 10 soldiers riding a motorized banca in the marshy area of barangay Balanakan, Datu Piang.

Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero, chief of the public information office of the Armed Forces, said the land-mine incident took place in barangay Bago Inged, Pikit.

Identities of the wounded Marines were not released, but they were with the Marine Battalion Landing Team-6 based in North Cotabato, who were conducting clearing operations. The soldiers sustained serious leg injuries.

Asked who could have planted the land mine, Lucero replied, “I don’t know. I don’t want to speculate. [The mine] is already old.”

Lucero said the Philippines had eliminated all its land mines after the country signed the Geneva Convention prohibiting the use of land mines.

The land-mine explosions happened a kilometer away from an area where President Arroyo’s helicopter was supposed to land.

There were no immediate reports that her visit would be canceled.

On the soldiers killed, Maj. Julieto Ando, spokesman for the 6th Infantry Division, laughed off the report, denying the MILF’s claim. He confirmed “there was an encounter, but no one was wounded among the soldiers.”

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the fighting started around 7 a.m. Tuesday when soldiers of the 37th Infantry Battalion tried to enter barangay Balanakan in pursuit of 16 militiamen who defected to them.

The defectors, led by Cayub Sinsuat, brought with them three M-203 grenade launchers, five M-14s, nine M-16s and a Garand rifle.

“That [defection] is not true. Our roster of Cafgu [Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit] is intact,” said Ando, adding “they [defectors] are civilians. We have no relations and control over them.”

Kabalu said the militiamen defected because they could not bear the burning of houses being done by soldiers, but Ando countered saying, “They are blaming the military for burning the houses but actually it is their handiwork. Why would the soldiers burn the houses? They are there to maintain law and order.”

Kabalu said military fighter planes are flying over the Balanakan area after the Army pounded the place with 105-mm howitzer fire, which Ando said was meant to soften the rebel position.

Aside from barangay Balanakan, fighting has also erupted in the nearby barangay Katibpuan, but both spokesmen don’t have the details of that clash.