MAITUM, Sarangani (June 26, 2008) – Civilians held hostage by heavily-armed men early Wednesday (June 25) in the boundary of Maitum with Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat have been "liberated" by Philippine Army troops and policemen, a military officer said last night.
Col. Gaudencio Pangilinan, who led his troops towards barangay Maguling "with much firefight," reported to Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon and Mayor Elsie Perrett at around 9:00pm at the municipal hall.
"So far yung may na-hostage na sibilyan doon sa Maguling and then doon sa area ng boundary ng Pinol, na-liberate na namin yun," said Pangilinan, commander of the 1002nd Army Brigade.
"It took us about half a day with much firefight," he said.
Pangilinan said "we have two casualties. Siguro mas marami silang casualty."
"It is our commitment to the mayor to make sure to secure her people and we will abide by that commitment. We will do this for as long as it takes," Pangilinan said.
Mayor Perrett said last night the situation was returning to normal.
Perrett said firefights broke out when heavily-armed men ambushed government troops who were on their way to a crime scene where a civilian volunteer was reportedly killed Wednesday morning by rebels in barangay Ticulab. A soldier was wounded in the ambush.
Truckloads of evacuees from the barangays of Maguling, Mindupok and Ticulab arrived later in the night to take shelter at the municipal gym. Government workers set up a community kitchen to feed some 1,468 evacuees fleeing the gunmen from Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.
The MILF-triggered evacuation came as villagers were returning to their homes in the aftermath of flashfloods caused by typhoon Frank. Local officials were calling on the Philippine National Red Cross, through Senator Richard Gordon, to send food, medicines and bedding.
According to a "progress report" from Maitum Police Station released 8:00 pm. Wednesday (June 25), police personnel led by PSInsp. Lurobe Paunon Rojo Sr. together with troops of the 27th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army led by 1Lt. Edwin Pia who were "trapped at Brgy. Mindupok have already passed and withdrawn at the positioned stronghold of the MILF rebels after the Philippine Army field artillery battalion mortar shelling."
"Later, attack helicopters launched rocket missile towards the MILF rebels," the report said.
The police identified the gunmen as being led by certain commander Ustadz Mursod, commander Ting Jakiri, commander Dante and commander 511 of the 104th brigade BIAF MILF based at camp Batang Bagras, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.
Helicopter attacks "prompted them to withdraw to the mountain ranges of barangay Mindupok wherein the army troopers conducted their continuous hot pursuit operation," according to the police report.
Mayor Perrett together with PCSupt. Felizardo Serafio, PNP regional director; PSSupt. Danilo Peralta, provincial director; and Vice Governor Solon convened Wednesday afternoon a crisis management team and simultaneously created a unified command post established at the municipal hall to monitor enemy troop movements.
PNP personnel from the Regional Mobile Group 12 led by PInsp. Oida, a team from the Sarangani Provincial Mobile Group led by PSInsp. Henrietto Villamor and a PNP team from Maitum was "dispatched to strategic places wherein possible route of the MILF rebels to the poblacion to prevent the overrun of the police station and other government installations."
Earlier, a 2:00 pm. "spot report" from PNP Maitum reported an "ambush incident" involving Maitum PNP personnel.
The report said policemen on board a patrol car together with Philippine Army troops on board a 6 x 6 truck were ambushed at barangay Mindupok while on their way to barangay Ticulab to respond to the reported shooting incident of "a certain Leloy who was allegedly ambushed by the group of MILF rebels in the area."
Investigation conducted disclosed that the ambush casualty was identified as SSgt. Benly Rizano y Salazar, 35, of the 27th IB, Philippine Army.
The soldier "sustained gunshot wound on his right thumb, left middle ring and little fingers and splinter on his right arm and the police has no casualty, only the new police patrol car which was hit with bullets and damaged on its left side door."
"The victim was evacuated from the scene of crime and later brought to the Maitum Municipal Hospital for medical treatment. The perpetrators established position at the mountain before the approach of the Luan Bridge, barangay Mindupok when the incident happened. The responding PNP elements this office led by PSInsp. Lurobe Rojo Sr. and the members of the 27th IB Philippine Army who conducted visibility patrol and assessment on the area were trapped in the area until reinforcement arrived," according to the police spot report.
Some civilians from barangay Maguling evacuated and sought refuge at barangay Pinol as they could not pass through barangay Mindupok where the MILF stronghold was established.
The Philippine Army field artillery battalion reinforced their comrades and the police in the area and conducted mortar shelling towards the rebels at the mountain ranges of barangay Mindupok and at around 3:25 pm. attack helicopters arrived and conducted air-to-ground attack on the rebels. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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