AFP: Attack in Cotabato a diversionary tactic

MANILA, Philippines - The attack by Moro rebels in the southern Philippine province of North Cotabato last Sunday was a diversionary tactic "to ease the tension" brought by continuous military operations in the adjacent Maguindanao province, an Army official said Monday. Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said pursuit operations are ongoing against the group of Ameril Umbra Kato, leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) faction that attacked several civilian communities in Central Mindanao last year. “One of the motives that we are seeing is this is a diversionary attack to ease up the tension in the area of Maguindanao where we are conducting relentless operations against the group of Kato," Cayton said. He said Kato's movement is now "confined in a small area" since the military has already cleared half of the Maguindanao marshland where the elusive MILF commander is hiding. A security guard was killed when MILF rebels attacked a banana plantation in Tulunan town at about 6 a.m. last Sunday. The plantation was reportedly owned by North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol, who led the filing of petition against the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) that the government was supposed to sign with the MILF. The Supreme Court had later declared the agreement unconstitutional - a development that led several MILF leaders to launch a series of attacks in Central Mindanao. Cayton said the rebels that attacked Piñol's plantation were led by one Bayan Abas, Salim Puasa alias Falcon, and Nandong Dalama. The rebels burned at least 30 houses and several heavy equipment, and carted away five horses and carabaos. The rebels could also be trying to "get even" at Piñol “for botching the MOA-AD," Cayton said. At present, Cayton said troops are continuing with the pursuit operations against the rebels who have fled to Maguindanao and to Sultan Kudarat. - GMANews.TV