MILF
seen in DavSur water wells
POLICE intelligence reports claimed that some members of
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were sighted in towns in Davao del Sur to
conduct more terrorist attacks. A police official, who requested anonymity,
said MILF rebels are planning to poison the National Waterworks System
Association (Nawasa) reservoirs in Bansalan and Sulop towns as part of the
group’s widespread assault in
But he said the plan was immediately unmasked this early
through the cooperation of concerned citizens and the intensified intelligence
monitoring by the police and military.
The official said it was the MILF whom government troops
clashed with Saturday morning in Barangay Takul, Kiblawan town, Davao del Sur.
Kiblawan, known to be a stronghold of the New People’s Army,
is located in the middle of Bansalan and Sulop.
The 10-man MILF troops were reportedly on their way to
conduct their plan when they were spotted by patrolling elements of the 25th
Infantry Battalion.
But the MILF denied any link to international terrorist
Osama bin Laden’s network, claiming it was only an oversized armed unit
operating in
MILF vice chair for military affairs Mohammad Al Hadj
Murad said in an interview over a radio station he is not aware of the
existence of Special Urban Terrorist Action Group (SUTAG).
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier claimed that the March 4
explosion at the
Murad said Al Queda is good at infiltrating any
organization including the MILF but he doesn’t think there is a special
operations group under them that works with Al Qaeda.
Besides, he said, the group doesn’t condone such activity
within their organization.
“We are asking the government that instead of speculating
on things which may worsen the situation, they should concentrate in coming up
a final resolution for the peace talks,” Murad said in a radio interview.
Murad said the MILF has 120,000 organized men which has
six divisions with more or less 700 battalions. Of the 120,000, about 80,000
are fully armed.
He said MILF has oversized units, which has become a
problem of the organization.
“Problema ito ng MILF, dapat kasi tama-tama lang (This has become a big problem),” Murad said.
“Napakarami kasing gustong pumasok (There are many who want to join us).” In
his Sunday TV program, Duterte said authorities are now in possession of two
suspects of the airport explosion allegedly members of SUTAG.