13 rogue MNLF members killed in Sulu clash

(Updated 5:24 p.m.) At least 13 gunmen believed to be rogue members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) were killed on Sunday in a clash with government troops in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, a military official said. Col. Romeo Tanalgo, commander of the Marine forces deployed in Sulu, said the encounter took place after around 100 armed men attacked soldiers manning a school construction site in Talipao town before dawn on Sunday. Government troops recovered 13 unidentified bodies so far at the site of the encounter. They were still scouring the area as of posting time, Tanalgo said. Tanalgo said the clash also left two enlisted soldiers dead and six others injured, including a lieutenant. Reports reaching Police Director Felicisimo Khu of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO)-Western Mindanao identified the two slain government troops as Cpl. Fermin and Pfc. Monte. Khu said four of the wounded soldiers were identified as Cpl. Bausa, Cpl. Ibarondo, Pvt. Dacumos, and 2Lt. Arrieta. Khu also said one of the slain enemies was Salip Jainal Kausi, allegedly the leader of the group that attacked the soldiers. Tanalgo official said the “new" rogue MNLF group called Awliyah, led by Hatib Zacaria, may be behind the attack, but he said authorities are still coming up with an analysis of the incident. “Ayaw nila [the armed group] ng development. In the past, ganoon na rin ang ginawa nila. This time, hindi na harassment, attack na talaga," Tanalgo said in a phone interview on Sunday. The MNLF is a secessionist group founded in 1969. It signed a peace pact with the government in 1996 although some of its fighters have sporadically clashed with soldiers. — Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News