9 MILF rebels killed in Maguindanao clash

MANILA, Philippines - Nine Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels were killed when the group tried to recapture a camp previously lost to the military in the southern province of Maguindanao, the military said Monday. Captain Louie Aguinaldo, operations officer of the 601st Brigade, said a number of MILF rebels and a soldier were also wounded in the 12-hour clash at Little Vietnam, the former rebel camp situated at Tatapan village in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town. The rebels were reportedly under Kumander Wahid Tundok, the operations officer of wanted MILF leader Ameril Umbra Kato of the secessionist group’s 105th Base Command. Aguinaldo said the firefight, which started 3 p.m. Sunday at lasted up to 3 a.m. Monday, erupted when Tundok and his group tried to recapture Little Vietnam reportedly upon instructions from Kato. “That’s the instruction of Kato a week ago, for them to return, for his commanders, his field commanders to return to their respective areas. This sparked the fighting," Aguinaldo said. The camp was overrun by the military last August. Aguinaldo placed the number of attacking MILF rebels at 100. He however admitted that the number of enemy fatalities was not based on body count but on reports received from the field. He said troops conducting clearing operations saw bloodstains in areas where mortars were fired. “Our troops are presently scouring the area. There are many bloodstains at the rebel positions targeted by our cannons. Based on signal intelligence, they suffered nine dead and many others wounded," he said. - GMANews.TV