Tag Archives: philippines

Eight Philippine soldiers were wounded in a landmine explosion after Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters attacked an army outpost in Maguindanao province. One of the leaders of the MILF force is thought to have direct links to Jemaah Islamiyah. The military arrested a Abu Sayyaf operative believed to be behind the kidnapping of a Philippine […]

Ustadz Yasser Igasan is reported to be the new leader of Abu Sayyaf. Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander Ameril Umbra Kato issued a videotape via YouTube; the military said the video highlights his insecurities. President Arroyo said there would be no memorandum of agreement on a Moro homeland.

Haji al Murad Ebrahim, the leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, threatened an all-out war if his forces are “pushed to the wall.” The Army seized the main MILF camp in central Mindanao after a week-long offensive. Three senior MILF commanders escaped the assault.

Five Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters and one soldier were killed in a clash in the South. MILF claimed the military attacked its fighters while praying inside a mosque. The military is sending “special troops” to hunt down Commander Bravo.

The military accused the Moro Islamic Liberation Front of murdering a member of a cease-fire committee. MILF accused the interior secretary ignoring the existence of the Ilaga “vigilante” group. A lawyer said US soldiers advising Philippine troops are legitimate targets for MILF.

A military airstrike in Mindanao killed 16 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters. MILF said there must be a peace deal before the group disarms. The military said an IED attack in Mindanao was the handiwork of Jemaah Islamiyah.

The military believes the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has fractured into splinter groups. MILF may drop support for two commanders behind the recent violence. More troops have been sent to the South to escort UN food aid. More than 500,000 civilians are believed to have been affected by the recent fighting.

President Arroyo disbanded the government panel negotiating autonomy with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Arrest warrants have been issued for MILF commanders Kato and Bravo, and 12 other members of the group. The government said 66 people have been killed and 79 wounded during recent fighting with MILF in the South.

A bombing at a bus terminal in Digos city in Davao del Sur province killed six civilians and wounded 20. The government said it would limit operations against MILF during Ramadan. The US said its soldiers were not present during the ambush in Sulu that killed four Philippine Marines and wounded 10.

Philippine police announced the captured of Ruben Omar Pestano Lavilla Jr., AKA Sheik Omar Lavilla, a leader in the Rajah Solaiman Movement who was behind the SuperFerry 14 bombing in February 2004. Lavilla was detained in Bahrain and extradited to the Philippines. A Catholic bishop called for a Ramadan cease-fire with MILF.

The government will not sign the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The agreement would have granted MILF autonomy in the South. Security forces overran a major MILF training camp and an arms factory in Mindanao.

Philippine forces “inflicted heavy casualties” on Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters in the southern provinces. MILF commander Ameril Umbra Kato and his forces are believed to be surrounded on the outskirts of Datu Piang in Maguindanao. Kato and Commander Bravo are linked to Jemaah Islamiyah, intelligence officials said.

Thirty people were reported killed in fighting between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The leader of the MILF appealed to Malaysia to revive stalled peace talks. The defense secretary urged an investigation into MILF’s money laundering.

The government canceled the agreement that would have given land in Mindanao and independence to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Talks will not resume until the two senior MILF commanders that launched the assault on towns in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato surrender. A MILF battalion commander and 30 fighters surrendered to government troops.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front warned that fighting in Mindanao could escalate into a full-blown war. The Philippine Defense Secretary said the offensive would not end any time soon. One of the two senior MILF commanders in Mindanao is believed to have been wounded during clashes.

More than 200 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters attacked the town of Kolambugan in the southern province of Lanao del Norte and took control of the town center. Two civilians have been confirmed killed as heavy fighting has been reported and MILF has taken hostages. MILF also attacked two other towns in the province.

Philippine troops have retaken control of all 15 villages in North Cotabato from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. MILF forces have been reported to have been pushed into the marshlands and the mountains in Shariff Kabunsuan province.

Thirty-one people have been reported killed during the second day of fighting in North Cotabato province between the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. More than 130,000 civilians have fled the fighting. Members of the opposition have filed cases to prevent the formation of a Muslim homeland in Mindanao.

One soldier was killed and five wounded after the military launched operations against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in North Cotabato province. MILF fighters occupied nine Christian villages in the region after the Philippine Supreme Court negated an agreement to establish a Muslim homeland in the South. MILF warned the fighting may spread.