The Muslim populace of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte assailed the attacks launched yesterday by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as totally insensitive and unprincipled. In text messages to Luwaran, civilians of the Lanao Empire rebuked the relentless and indiscriminate firing of 105mm and 155mm howitzers by the AFP starting 3am until sunset in the municipality of Piagapo, Lanao del Sur and in the towns of Poonapiagapo, Pantao Ragat and Munai, Lanao del Norte.
“The heavy bombardments were unleashed by the AFP when we Muslims were partaking Suhur (allowable early morning meals before fasting starts) and the Iftar (time to partake food to break the fast starting sunset),” one text message said.

“These were wild, insensitive and unprincipled attacks by the AFP, short of telling the Muslims to eat our mortar shells,” said in the subsequent txt message.

Government soldiers also attacked yesterday the MILF freedom fighters in Panggawa and Tagoranao, Calanogas, Lanao del Sur during Iftar. Fierce gun battle ensued for hours but no report on casualty yet.

Some 21 AFP men were killed and several others wounded in an ambushed stage by the MILF freedom fighters at Bubongaranao, Calanogas last September 17, 2008.

AFP Chief General Alexander Yano said there shall be tactical adjustments on military operations that are conscious and sensitive of Muslim’s religious and cultural practices during Ramadhan.

Yano, however, said the campaign against “rogue MILF commanders Ameril Umbra Kato and Bravo will go on despite the observance of the Ramadan.”

MILF freedom fighters were recently ordered to defend themselves and the Bangsamoro people from the indiscriminate campaigns of the AFP.

Casualties on the government forces in Lanao provinces alone were estimated to around 250 soldiers since the start of police-military against the MILF last month.

Meanwhile, sermons of the religious leaders of Lanao provinces in yesterday’s Friday congregational prayer called on the Bangsamaoro to unite and wage Jihad fi sabilillah in fighting the oppressors, religious persecutors and enemies of Islam.

After the prayer, the religious folks exchanged views wherein they opined that the government might again launch massive military offensives during the Eidl Fitri (the feast that marks the end of the blessed month of Ramadhan).

It must be recalled that the government started its all-out war campaign in 2003 against the MILF and the Bangsamoro people on February 11 (2/11) at Buliok Isalmic Center while the late MILF Chairman Salamat Hashim was delivering Khutbah (Sermon) for the Eid’l Adha (the feast of pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Mecca in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).



source: Luwaran Online