Seven foreign tourists were allegedly shot at by armed forces elements in Malaybalay, Bukidnon last February 13.
“The more plausible one is to evacuate the rumored one US fallen and another wounded that necessitated a helicopter pronto to hide their own and actual participation in the botched operation,” said Fr. Eliseo “Jun” Mercado in a Facebook post afternoon of Thursday.
According to MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, the clash was triggered by lack of coordination on the SAF operation.
The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) confirmed that it killed at least 15 out of the 45 members of the elite Philippine National Police Special Action Forces in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao on early dawn Sunday.
A murder case has already been filed against an army major from the 4th Infantry Battalion under the 10th Infantry Division who allegedly shot dead a woman in Tagum City on January 9.
Saying that they have all the time of the year for military operations, a leader of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines urged all Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) generals and commanders to allow their troops to go home and celebrate Christmas with their families as the rebels would also want to have a peaceful celebration with their families and friends.
A community-based school run by the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in Talaingod, Davao del Norte has stopped its operations a day after celebrating their founding anniversary last October 1 due to intensified militarization.
Dexter Ian Selebrado, 29, a peasant organizer, who was shot and wounded Monday afternoon after he attended the provincial-wide launching of People’s Initiative against pork barrel system in this city, tagged military agents and some local government officials to be the persons behind the said murder attempt.
Former intelligence officer and now army division commander, Major General Eduardo Año announced that he would concentrate his division to crushing the communist movement in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley.
Sampag said “they do not know what they are doing and must be convinced to stop serving the military.”
