COTABATO CITY, Philippines — At least 30 members of the Philippine National Police elite Special Action Forces who were out to arrest suspected terrorists, and five fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, were killed in a clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, Sunday, after the cops entered an MILF base allegedly in violation of the ceasefire agreement, two rebel officials said on Sunday.
Von Al Haq, vice chair for military affairs of the MILF, said the PNP SAF did not properly coordinate with the MILF when they set out to serve warrants of arrest for Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, known by the military and police as “Marwan,” in Barangay Tukanalipao. (The coordination is required under the ceasefire agreement between the MILF and the Philippine government, which recently signed a peace agreement.)
Al Haq said the policemen ended up clashing with the MILF men and the BIFF under Commander Guiawan in Barangay (village) Tukanalipao.
“They were also after Basit Usman,” he added. Usman is a Jemaah Islamiyah bomb making expert.
“They were trapped and may have run out of bullets during a fierce firefight,” a police source said. The source claimed that “Marwan” was also killed along with several BIFF members. (This has not been confirmed by the police or the military.)
30 cops, 5 MILF men killed in Maguindanao clash | Inquirer News
ahak.. nganong di pa man gud ni sila pamuohon imbes makigstorya.. libog nalang ta aning atong mga leaders..