Soldier killed, 5 wounded in Maguindanao ambush

Karlos Manlupig

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A soldier was killed and 5 others were wounded in an August 9 ambush in Maguindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A soldier was killed while 5 others were wounded in an ambush by Muslim rebels in Maguindanao Thursday afternoon, August 9, a military spokesman said.

Commodore Romeo Santiago Nebres, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said that two military units conducting separate security patrols in Barangay Sayap in the town of Datu Hoffer were attacked by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The troops fought back and engaged the rebels in a gunfight which lasted until 7 p.m. Thursday.

Nebres said they could not determine if there were casualties from the BIFF side. “Security operations by the military are still ongoing to chase the rebels and bring back normalcy to the affected communities,” Nebres said.

The MILF is holding peace negotiations with the Aquino administration. The government has given assurances that the recent attacks of the BIFF won’t derail the talks.

Meanwhile, the body of a government soldier reported missing hours after BIFF members simultaneously attacked military detachments in Maguindanao last weekend was recovered on Friday morning, August 10.

A composite team of troops from the Army and the local police retrieved the cadaver of Sgt Sonny Estabillo along the Datu Saudi Ampatuan-Shariff Aguak National Highway, said 6th Infantry Division spokesperson Col Prudencio Asto.

“Sgt. Estabillo was still wearing his motorcycle helmet and clothes exactly as described by his family,” Asto said.

The current conflict between government troops and rebels in Maguindanao has displaced 8,108 families or 37,240 individuals, mostly mothers and children.

Nebres said they come from the municipalities of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak, Ampatuan, Talayan, Datu Unsay and Datu Abdullah Sangki from the province of Maguindanao and from the municipality Pikit in North Cotabato. – Rappler.com

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