‘Attacks vs Moro rebels justified’

COTABATO CITY — The military justified yesterday ongoing military maneuvers against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in some towns of Maguindanao, saying they were aimed at guerrillas behind recent attacks on government workers and equipment being used in infrastructure projects.

"We are not really going after the MILF as an organization. (The fighting) started because of the burning of equipment owned by the government," said Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, the Armed Forces’ Southern Command chief.

Suspected Moro rebels crippled a bulldozer with B-40 rockets in Shariff Aguak town and then set it on fire last Sunday.

Since Tuesday, fierce fighting has erupted between military and rebel forces in Shariff Aguak as soldiers pursued the rebels responsible for Sunday’s attack.

Under the ceasefire agreement forged last year, government troops could launch operations against MILF rebels who commit atrocities not only against civilians but also against military units.

Six guerrillas were reported killed in renewed clashes in Shariff Aguak yesterday.

One of the slain rebels, Bedu Saripuddin, was positively identified by residents of Mamasapano town, also in Maguindanao, as one of arsonists.

Soldiers and MILF rebels have been pounding each other’s position with mortars and B-40 rockets in Mamasapano where guerrillas have sought refuge after harassing government workers building a farm-to-market road in Shariff Aguak.

The MILF, however, urged for an immediate investigation into the military maneuvers, which have forced some 6,000 people in Shariff Aguak and Mamasapano towns to flee their homes.