9 Moro rebels killed in series of clashes - Army

At least nine Moro guerillas were killed in a series of clashes with government forces in the borders of North Cotabato and Maguindanao since December 31, the Army here reported Friday.

Capt. Antonio Bulao, spokesperson of the 602nd Infantry Brigade, said the latest fatalities were two Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, who were killed on January 1 during a rebel attack on a paramilitary outpost in Barangay Nabalawag in Pikit, North Cotabato.

“Our forces retaliated from sniper shots fired from the BIFF side, killing two of the attackers,” Bulao said.

A soldier was wounded in the 20-minute firefight that ensued, he added.

On Thursday, seven rebels were also killed during a clash with soldiers in Barangay Paidu Pulangi, also in Pikit, according to Bulao.

“They keep on harassing our forces,” Bulao said of the recent activities involving the breakaway Moro Islamic Liberation Front faction.

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PNP, Army put up check points following grenade attacks in North Cotabato town

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao, March 10 (PNA) - Police and military authorities have put up road blocks and choke points along major thoroughfares in Pikit, North Cotabato following the series of bomb and grenade attacks.


While no one was hurt in the latest incident that happened on February 9, Senior Insp. Elias Dandan, Pikit police chief, said more police are visibly deployed along residential areas and public places like markets and town centers.


Unidentified men tossed a hand grenade in front of a Mosque in Barangay POblacion at about 11:30 p.m. The blast caused fear among the residents nearby.


In February, a fragmentation grenade was also lobbed at the town's commercial establishments in what police believed was carried out by extortion groups.


The owner of the establishment had confirmed having received, but ignored a letter from the Al-Khobar extortion gang demanding monthly “protection money” prior to the bombing.


Dandan said investigators and Army intelligence operatives operating in Pikit are certain the latest grenade attack at the market and at the Mosque were the handiwork of the same extortion gang.


Composed of former Moro rebels, the Al-Khobar has claimed responsibility for the spate of deadly bombings of buses, commercial establishments and public terminals in North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat in recent months.


The town police chief said one of two men riding a motorcycle in tandem hurled the grenade near the mosque and sped away.


Colonel Benjamen Hao, 7th Infantry Battalion commander based in Pikit, has augmented the undermanned town police force by establishing several choke points along portions of the highway linking Cotabato and Davao.


Common along the highway, especially during early evening rush hours, are robberies, hold-up, strafing of passenger vehicles, shooting and bombings.


Dandan said the local government is considering an imposition of curfew hours to prevent lawless elements from carrying their ill motives against innocent civilians.


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RSV/NYP/EOF | Philippine News Agency | March 10,2012 | Article Link