A MILITARY commander in Basilan yesterday said Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) leaders claimed a “third party” caused last week’s fierce firefight between government troops and MILF forces in Ungkaya Pukan town that left three soldiers and seven MILF members dead.
“According to them, there is a third party…It’s the lawless group, it could be the lawless who started it,” said Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, commander of the military’s Joint Task Force Basilan.
The military earlier said MILF members opened fire at soldiers Tuesday last week while Lt. Col. John Ferdinand Lazo, commander of the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion, was trying to dialogue with MILF members in Barangay Ulitan.
A day earlier, the military received a request from the MILF to allow its members to go to the barangay, where a group of lawless elements was being pursued by the military. The military agreed to the request on the condition the MILF men will not bring firearms.
Lazo went to the barangay last Tuesday and was surprised to see that MILF members, with firearms, were already in the area.
Lazo tried to negotiate for the pullout of the MILF forces but MILF commanders refused to see him. Tension later broke out that led MILF men to open fire at security escorts of Lazo, sparking the firefight.
Military officials said the MILF members were aided by lawless elements reportedly being coddled by MILF men during the three-day firefight.
“They (MILF leaders) did not admit it,” said Gobway, referring to initial military information that MILF members fired the first shots.
Gobway said the MILF, however, admitted its men figured in the firefight. “They admitted it, seven died on their side…They declared seven, they reported seven dead (on their side),” he said.
Asked if he believes the claim that MILF members did not start the firefight, Gobway said: “I don’t want to comment on that to avoid further issue.”
Gobway said the military is not keen on pressing charges against the involved MILF members, noting the primacy of the peace process between the government and the MILF.
Gobway said presidential peace advisor Carlito Galvez went to Basilan to “settle” the problem. Galvez visited the province last Monday and presided over a dialogue between the military and MILF officials.
Lazo and MILF commander Huram Malangka shook hands during the dialogue, vowed to closely coordinate with each other, and maximize existing peace mechanisms to avoid hostilities similar to last week.
