Source: Luwaran 

The ceasefire pillars of the Government of the Republic Philippines – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GRP-MILF) peace process, Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and International Monitoring Team (IMT), had neutralized a fierce clash yesterday in some barangays of Datu Piang, Maguindanao between the MILF forces and government militias. Brunei officers with the IMT led by Maj Muhammad Wata bin Abdullah Awat and Sgt Azmain and volunteers of the Bantay Ceasefire Group were actively involved in defusing the clash.


Sporadic firefight started in the afternoon of September 2, 2007 when, allegedly, a group of around 30 MILF forces was ambushed by the civilian volunteers organization (CVO) as they passed in lower Barangay Balanaken, Datu Piang.

Two MILF elements were hit during the ambushed. But MILF Commander Wahid, in an interview with luwaran, belied the reports saying his son was one of the wounded who died eventually.

Exchanged of high powered firearms ensued after the ambush until 9pm of September 2 causing large exodus of civilians to safer grounds.

Unfortunately, two elements of the 4th reconnaissance unit of the 6th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, were hit at passed eight in the evening when the MILF forces were allegedly pursuing the CVOs that withdrew towards the detachment of the reconnaissance unit.

64th Infantry Battalion, 601st Brigade, Philippine Army sent reinforcement to the area at 10pm prompted by the fires that hit their men inside at their command post stationed at nearby Barangay Buayan, Datu Piang..

Earlier, the Joint GRP – MILF CCCH relayed order to both the AFP and MILF forces in the area not to be involved in the firefight. The order was observed accordingly not until the military detachment was hit in the cross fire.

The joint ceasefire bodies failed to separate the warring forces of the 105th Base Command and CVOs that day since they arrived at the scene of the encounter at passed 5pm and darkness was already catching up.

However, Joint GRP-MILF CCCH explained that it was able to relay the orders for immediate ceasefire while on their way the area of encounter. It cited that both the government forces and MILF fighters were obeying the orders not to get involved.

But it was unfortunate that the command post of the reconnaissance unit was hit and two officers were wounded who were identified as Platoon Leader 2Lt Dexter Apsai and PFC Efren Lamoneros.

At 5am the following day, firefights erupted between the MILF forces and the CVO elements being joined already joined the 64th Infantry Battalion.

Col Danilo Garcia, Brigade Commander of the 601st infantry Brigade, said the 64th IB was just forced to be involved in the firefight following the firings that hit the military command post in Barangay Buayan, adding that “it is also the sworn duty of the military to protect the civilians in any given situation at all times.”

In an interview, Ustaz Umbra Kato, Base Commander of the 105th Base Command, admitted that he also sent reinforcement when the military was already involved.

He said, however, that he do not blame Col Garcia for sending their troops to be involved in the encounter since two of his men were hit in the crossfire.

The local government of Datu Piang accused the recent movement of the forces of the 105th Base Command in its areas as geared towards taking over the municipal government.

Ustaz Kato assailed the accusation of the local government as baseless and malicious durng a dialogue held in the middle of the encounter area yesterday between the GRP-MILF CCCH, IMT and Bantay Ceasefire and commanders of the 105th Base Command.

“We are convince that somebody, not the mayor of Datu Paing, is orchestrating a plan that will create a situation that will trigger a full blown encounter between the government forces and the 105th Base Command,” Kato said.

He pointed out that his men had been passing the area for so many years and they were never ambushed. He admitted though that there could have been lapses on coordination but we did not imagine that an ambush would be perpetrated against his men in the area.

Kato urged the GRP-MILF CCCH and IMT to conduct further investigation on the incident to find out the truth of the incident and be able to identify the parties who intend to ignite big clashes between the forces of the government and MILF.

At 2pm yesterday, the GRP-MILF CCCH and IMT succeeded to enforce the ceasefire and facilitate the withdrawal of both forces to their original barracks after highly tensed dialogue. Other commitments forged during separate dialogues involving all the parties were to put up a Joint Monitoring and Assistance Team (JMAT) in Datu Piang, enhance coordination of activities and movements of troops to avoid confrontational situations and misencounters, immediate return of the internally displaced persons and provision of relief assistance, and conduct of joint fact-finding inquiry on the incident

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