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MILF ceasefire panel member slain in Basilan
MANILA, Philippines - A member of the ceasefire committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was among those killed in an encounter with government forces in the southern Philippine province of Basilan Sunday. Lt. Esteffani Cacho, spokesman of the militaryâs Western Mindanao Command, identified the slain MILF rebel as Sattar Ali. âWe have very credible report stating that Sattar Ali died during the encounter. Looking at it in the point of view⦠Why was he in the fire fight? Weâre starting to think that maybe he has an involvement," Cacho said. MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal likewise confirmed that Ali was a member of the organizationâs ceasefire monitoring team. âHe (Ali) is a member of the local monitoring team of the ceasefire. He is a fighter (of the MILF)," Iqbal said. Cacho said it is up to the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) to determine the circumstances of Aliâs death. Five Marine soldiers were killed while 24 others were wounded in the said encounter, which occurred in Kaili village in Al Barka town. Iqbal said they suffered three fatalities. Cacho said the offensive was against the Abu Sayyaf, but the terrorist group was reportedly backed up by some MILF members. âWe are actually going after the Abu Sayyaf, but the Abu Sayyaf ran toward the sanctuaries of the MILF and we believe that they (MILF) provided sanctuary instead of turning them over to the AFP," Cacho said. But Iqbal said the military were targeting the MILF and not the smaller Abu Sayyaf. âThis means that the government wants war, not peace," he said. Talks between the government and the MILF hit a snag last August after the Supreme Court stopped the signing of a memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD). The Court later ruled the pact âunconstitutional." Iqbal denied the militaryâs claim that the MILF is colluding with the Abu Sayyaf although he admitted that some MILF forces in Basilan are ârespecting" family of some Abu Sayyaf members. âMembers of the Abu Sayyaf are also from Basilan. How can we provide them sanctuary?" he said. - GMANews.TV
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