MANILA, Philippines - The fifteen villages in several towns in North Cotabato and Maguindanao have been cleared of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces, a regional military spokesman said Wednesday.
"Our troops have virtually cleared all barangays (villages) affected. While the group of Umbra Kato have left, the clearing process, including the removal of mines and explosives laid by the rebels as they left, are still being conducted," said Maj. Armand Rico, spokesman for the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command.
"What we are doing (right now) is mere procedural like mine clearing because the group of Umbra Kato had left many mines. We are not yet recommending the return of the civilians (because of possible mines)," Rico said.
Maj. Gen. Armando Cunanan, AFP Eastmincom chief, identified the areas cleared as: the villages of Baliki, Lagumbinga, Upper Labas, Patindigan and Central Labas in Midsayap town; Bagolibas, Dualing, Pangangan, Dungguan and Tapadak villages in Aleosan town.
Gumaga village in Libungan town, Bualan in Pkit town, Lower Baguer and Cabpengi in Pigkawayan town; all in North Cotabato and Gayonga in Northern Kabuntalan in Maguindanao province.
Rico said military explosives experts have been sent to the areas to ensure the safe return of the displaced residents there.
In a separate phone interview with reporters in Manila, MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said the group of Commander Ameril Umbra Kato left the affected North Cotabato towns in keeping with the call of the GRP and MILF ceasefire committees.
"The areas where there were presence of MILF (rebels) under Ameril Umbra are already cleared. The ones that were left there are the MILF (members) who are natives in the area. They (Kato and his group) are no longer there," Jaafar said.
"They followed the resolution of the committee of the MILF and the GRP for them to reposition, thats what happened," he added in referring to the July 31 resolution passed by members of the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities.
The resolution was adopted hours after the government gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the MILF to vacate the communities. But before the deadline lapsed, an exchange of mortar fire ensued which affected the repositioning of the MILF fighters and triggered fresh hostilities in the area.
Two soldiers were killed while 12 other troops were wounded in the skirmishes. Military authorities estimate the number of MILF fatalities to be 31 although the figure has to be confirmed based on actual body count.
On Tuesday, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gave security forces a 24-hour deadline to finish their clearing operations in the affected areas.
As of early Wednesday afternoon, Rico said they have not monitored rebel presence in the areas previously occupied by the MILF. - GMANews.TV