Philippines army blames MILF for attack in remote town

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) - Followers of a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are to blame for a deadly attack in a remote town in North Cotabato, according to the military on Friday.

Capt. John Arvin Encinas told a military division the attackers of a paramilitary detachment belonged to the MILF's 105th base command under Abdulrashid Ali, who is also known as Commander RP, the Philippine News Agency reported.

Two followers of Ali's group were killed on Thursday when village defenders and members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit engaged the attackers.

The attack forced hundreds of residents to flee.

Citing information from villagers, Encinas said prior to the attack a group of armed Commander RP had demanded share in the harvest of palay by farmers. The demand was rejected by residents and sought the deployment of militiamen and village defenders who later repelled Ali's group.

He said government forces have been deployed in the communities on the borders of North Cotabato and Maguindanao to prevent similar attacks, especially during harvest season.

The military is preparing to file complaints before the government and a MILF cease-fire panel for violation of a 1997 cease-fire accord.

Von Al Haq, vice chair of MILF’s military affairs, told Anadolu Agency the cease-fire mechanism with the government was now investigating the incident. He said the International Monitoring Team-12, comprising 31 members from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, and European Union is helping in the investigation.

He said the monitoring team's primary objective in southern Philippines is to monitor the cease-fire agreement between MILF and the government as well as the socioeconomic and humanitarian development programs of both parties in conflict areas. He believes the incident would not escalate since the cease-fire committee had been activated to pacify both sides.

The MILF is in peace talks with the central government to seek greater Bangsamoro autonomy in the predominantly Muslim region in the southern Philippines.

Earlier, MILF political affairs chief Ghazali Jaafar expressed confidence in the Bangsamoro Basic Law that will be passed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

A MILF official said if the group is asked it would be open to playing a role in resolving the crisis in Marawi where Daesh-linked militants have occupied the city since late May.