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Two marines and a child were killed while nine others were wounded in two separate attacks carried out by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) at the Municipal Hall of Panamao and a Marine detachment in Tayugan Village last Friday night and yesterday morning Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan, spokesperson of Philippine Marine Corps said in a press statement that the first attack occurred last Friday night at the Panamao municipal hall. Caculitan said the MNLF fighters led by Jabier Malik shelled the Panamao municipal hall located in Seit Village with mortar. The attack killed a child and wounded another, according to report Caculitan said the second attack occurred around 6am at the detachment of the 11th Marine Battalion Landing Team in Tayugan Village killing two soldiers wounding eight others. Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael commander of Task Force Comet, condemned the MNLF mortar attacks. Rafael said the MNLF attacking forces, believed to be led by Ustads Jabier Malik, should be made responsible for the casualties incurred which is tantamount to murder and frustrated murder. "This is a clear violation of the 1992 peace agreement between the government and the MNLF," said the task force commander. The headquarters of the 11th Marine Battalion Landing Team that was attacked was forced to deliver counter fires for defense and prevention of further civilian casualties. The reason for the MNLF attack is AFP and MNLF forces have been closely working together against the Abu Sayyaf through the AFP-MNLF Ad Hoc coordinating group. Malik is the MNLF leader who held in detention Usec. Santos and Brig. Gen. Dolorfino in their camp in Barangay Bitan-ag, Panamao, Sulu last February 2007. "The military is currently on active defense mode. We are moving our forces to prevent further escalation of MNLF attacks." said Maj. Gen. Rafael. “We will continue to adhere to the primacy of the 1992 peace agreement but we will suppress this lawlessness perpetrated by this group.” The military will take appropriate action on what the MNLF did and they will be charged criminally, according to a military official. Last Monday, army soldiers claimed to have captured three Abu Sayyaf bandits in two simultaneous raids in Talipao, Sulu. But a Jolo based lawyer, Atty. Ulka Ulama denounced the arrest of his two clients, who executed a joint affidavit stating that they are members of Civilian Volunteers Organization and not Abu Sayyaf terrorists.
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