MILF commander, two men killed in ambush by colleagues, says police

By Ronron
July 30, 2007

A commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and his two men were killed in an ambush allegedly by his colleagues in Maguindanao province on Sunday noon.

Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao, commander of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Police, said yesterday that the incident happened along the shores of Sitio Sampakan, Barangay Buliok in Pagulangan town.

The victims, identified as MILF commander Basher Mustapha and his men, Anwar Mustapha and Max Konowa, were aboard a motorbanca with other comrades and had just docked when fired upon by undetermined number of suspects.

Goltiao identified the perpetrators as members of another MILF command headed by a certain Bangkong Ali, and the motive is allegedly connected to a conflict on a territorial jurisdiction.

Goltiao said the suspects escaped but has no details yet as to how.

The MILF is currently talking peace with the government as it seeks autonomy. The group’s relations with the government is presently being tested by the July 10 incident in Basilan wherein the MILF owned up the clash with Marine forces.

Fourteen soldiers died in the incident, 10 of whom were beheaded.

The MILF denied the beheading./DMS