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MILF uses civilians as human shields - TV report


MANILA, Philippines - Civilians are being used by suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels as “human shields" against military forces in Lanao del Norte, a television report said Monday. GMA News' Ivan Mayrina reported over QTV’ 11's Balitanghali news program that the rebels who escaped Lapayan village in Kauswagan town took with them some residents to use as “human shields" even as they left at least eight people dead. According to some hostages who were freed after a few hours, some of their companions were killed and left in the mountains. The same report said the military is having difficulties resolving the situation in Kolambugan town, whose business center have been taken over by rebels, because some residents are likewise being used as human shields. Kolambugan Mayor Bertrand Lumaque said he has not been able to determine the exact number of civilian hostages. "Hindi namin ma-confirm pero ang sabi ng kaibigan natin marami raw sila," Lumaque said in an interview over Balitanghali. "Ang problema lang hindi makaretaliate ang mga military natin kasi marami kasing civilian…Nandiyan sila sa poblacion area ng Kolambugan," he added. About 300 suspected rebels took over Kolambugan and Kauswagan around 4 a.m. Monday, Mayrina said in his report. The suspected rebels had set at least 15 houses on fire in Lapayan village. In Taub village in Kauswagan, meanwhile, at least eight houses were set on fire while four were reported to have been killed. Some residents have fled the affected areas; some by foot, some by boat, and others on vehicles, said the report. The military admitted that they received intelligence information saying that the MILF will launch such attacks, it added. The military said, however, that while government forces have since prepared for the attacks, it can’t cover all towns because of “strategic deployment." Earlier, two civilians were killed in Maasim town in Sarangani province after suspected rebels ransacked the town proper, a pawnshop, and a drugstore in the municipality. The MILF, however, has washed its hands off the attacks, saying there was no order from the leadership to launch the attacks. "As far as the leadership of the MILF is concerned, walang utos ang leadership (the MILF leadership has given no order to attack)," said MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said in an interview on dzRH radio. He said they are still "verifying" whether the forces involved in the incidents are indeed from their ranks, adding that the MILF has already dispatched the ceasefire committee to Lanao to probe the clashes there. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV
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