AFP won’t stop until it gets Malik

By Ronron
April 16, 2007

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will not stop its large-scale operations in Sulu until it captures or neutralizes Ustadz Habier Malik, a commander of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who initiated attacks against civilian and military positions beginning Friday evening.

AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo on Monday that around 3,000 of the more than 7,000 troops in Sulu are now tracking down Malik in Panamao town.

The operating troops include four battalions from the Philippine Marines and two from the Philippine Army. They are also being supported by air assets from the Philippine Air Force.

“We will pursue him (Malik),” Bacarro said.

The military estimates Malik’s force to be more than 300. But they are believed to be in collusion with Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorists also hiding in the island province.

“I would like to clarify that the government efforts are not against the MNLF. (Rather), it is (only) against the group of MNLF under Ustadz Malik… We are giving emphasis to the peace agreement with the MNLF but these actions of Ustadz Habier Malik, the unprovoked shelling in Panamao, this is lawlessness. So we will run after the group of Malik,” Bacarro said.

So far, two soldiers and a civilian were killed, while 19 soldiers and another civilian were wounded since Malik’s group started shelling mortars before midnight of Friday.

Counter-attacks by government forces resulted in the death of at least nine men of Malik and the wounding of one, said Bacarro. He said the figure could actually be higher if all casualties are recovered by the military.

Bacarro said the Marine forces already took full control of Malik’s camp in Bitan-ag Complex at 5:30 am yesterday (Monday).

“He and his men are now on the run,” Bacarro said of Malik, adding he is on isolation since his acts were not sanctioned and supported by other MNLF commanders in the area.

Bacarro said the military has yet to figure out with certainty the real reason behind Malik’s attack. But he maintains those were “unprovoked.”/DMS