3 killed in ‘MILF’ attack in Basilan; 3 snatched

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels attacked Saturday a village in the southern Philippine island of Basilan, killing two government militias and woman, officials said. Officials said three more civilians were seized by rebels, using them as shield against pursuing soldiers in the outskirts of Lamitan City. The rebels were led by MILF commander Usman, whose base is in Tipo-Tipo town. "The rebels opened fire on houses and killing two militias and a woman," Mayor Roderick Furigay was quoted as saying. Nick Castro, the mayor's aide, identified those killed as Nonie Sahilon, Cesar Alberto and his wife Dahlia Alberto. "The attack forced more than 120 families to flee their homes and sought shelter to safer areas. Mayor Furigay already sent aid workers to assist the refugees," he said. Castro said many of those who fled their homes are staying at the Balobo Elementary School. But the military blamed the attack on the Abu Sayyaf group. Our reports said the Abu Sayyaf was responsible for the attack," said Lt. Steffani Cacho, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command headquarters, based in Zamboanga City. She said the Abu Sayyaf is holding the three civilians. "They are being used as human shield by the Abu Sayyaf. The operation against the Abu Sayyaf is going on," she told reporters. The military accused the MILF of sheltering the Abu Sayyaf, but rebel leaders denied the allegations and said security forces were just using the operations against the militant group to attack them. Peace talks between the MILF and the Arroyo administration collapsed after the failed signing of the Muslim ancestral domain accord in August. Since then, fighting erupted in many areas in the southern Philippines despite a seven-year old truce. President Gloria Arroyo opened up peace talks with the MILF in 2001 in an effort to end more than three decades of bloody secessionist war in Mindanao, a region rich in natural resources. - Al Jacinto