MILF troops leave Basilan village 'near Abu camp'
08/21/2007 | 04:05 PM
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed Tuesday to pull out 200 troops from an encampment allegedly nestled near a lair of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group at Tipo-Tipo town in Basilan.
GMA News reported that the decision was reached during a meeting of the joint monitoring and assistance team under the GRP-MILF panel.
The gathering was held at the Basilan provincial capitol, with local executives, MILF representatives and military officials in attendance.
GMA News said the rebels will leave Baguindan in Tipo-Tipo, where authorities suspect an Abu Sayyaf camp is situated.
The move would allegedly help curb allegations that the MILF was in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf and prevent a repeat of the July 10 clash in Al-Barka, wherein MILF rebels attacked Marines looking for then abducted Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi.
The MILF at that time scored the military for failing to inform them about their movement in the area, parts of which are alleged territories of the MILF.
Interestingly, the 200 MILF troops will now set up camp at Al-Barka's Guinanta village, the site of the said clash which resulted in the death of 14 Marines.
Meanwhile, a MILF liason officer was quoted as saying that the rebels will comply with the agreement to ensure peace in the area, but maintained that they were armed and ready to fight military if they are constrained to do so. - GMANews.TV
GMA News reported that the decision was reached during a meeting of the joint monitoring and assistance team under the GRP-MILF panel.
The gathering was held at the Basilan provincial capitol, with local executives, MILF representatives and military officials in attendance.
GMA News said the rebels will leave Baguindan in Tipo-Tipo, where authorities suspect an Abu Sayyaf camp is situated.
The move would allegedly help curb allegations that the MILF was in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf and prevent a repeat of the July 10 clash in Al-Barka, wherein MILF rebels attacked Marines looking for then abducted Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi.
The MILF at that time scored the military for failing to inform them about their movement in the area, parts of which are alleged territories of the MILF.
Interestingly, the 200 MILF troops will now set up camp at Al-Barka's Guinanta village, the site of the said clash which resulted in the death of 14 Marines.
Meanwhile, a MILF liason officer was quoted as saying that the rebels will comply with the agreement to ensure peace in the area, but maintained that they were armed and ready to fight military if they are constrained to do so. - GMANews.TV
