MILF violates truce, Nocot town mayor says

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- A town mayor in North Cotabato accused the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to have committed gross violation of the ceasefire agreement it inked with the Philippine government when they launched an attack against civilians, police, and military forces in a village in Tulunan town on May 25.

Tulunan Mayor Lani Candolada, in an interview, said she personally experienced how the rebels attacked them when they proceeded to sitio Malipayon, barangay Maybula, at around 9 a.m., on Saturday.

Candolada said she was with the military, police, and Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) members, when she went to the area to assess the situation after receiving reports that a group of armed men have been harassing the villagers, mostly B’laan natives and Christian settlers.

She recounted how they were “surrounded” with “small” and “big” fires while they were heading towards the area.

The mayor was certain the attackers were MILF rebels.

“During the multi-lateral dialogue held on May 28 in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) admitted to us that the area where the mortar fires and sporadic firing originated was an MILF camp,” Candolada said.

“At that time, when we were attacked, I was anxious but did not panic. All throughout, I was negotiating with the IMT, with MILF vice-chair for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar, and with the LGU mayors of Columbio, Sultan Kudarat and Datu Paglas, Maguindanao to stop the firing...to end the hostilities. After an hour, it stopped,” Candolada said.

But 10 minutes after they left, the MILF rebels positioned at sitio Barko-Barko pounded at least five mortars in the place.

The sitio Barko-Barko, according to the mayor, is considered a “high ground” and a “very strategic position.”

It is the subject of the boundary conflict between the LGUs of Tulunan, North Cotabato; Datu Paglas, Maguindanao; and Columbio, Sultan Kudarat.

“Through a telescope, I can see the MILF rebels positioned at sitio Barko-Barko. This is a higher ground. So when you are on top of that hill, you can see the movement of the PNP, AFP, and even the civilians,” Candolada said.