December 9, 2002,

Camp Siongco, Maguindanao: The military has started bracing for retaliation by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front [MILF] following Friday's [6 December] sporadic hostilities in two flash-point areas in Maguindanao that left six MILF guerrillas and an army corporal dead.

Army Maj Julietio Ando, spokesman of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said their commander, Maj-Gen Generoso Senga, has alerted all their units in the province after receiving reports yesterday from local officials of the massing of MILF forces in Buldon, Barira and Matanog towns around Camp Abubakar, the front's former bastion.

"We have also been receiving persistent feedback from Muslim religious leaders that since Friday afternoon, dozens of MILF rebels have also been roaming strategic spots in the neighbouring towns of Datu Piang, Shariff Aguak and Talayan towns in the second district of Maguindanao," Ando said.

Six rebels, three of them alleged relatives of Pentagon kidnap gang chieftain Tahir Alonto, have been killed in sporadic clashes since Friday in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao.

The hostilities erupted when the rebels opened fire on a group of soldiers and militiamen on their a way to a secluded rice farm in Barangay [Village] Langapanan in Sultan sa Barongis to check sightings by civilians of MILF forces converging there.

Ando identified the soldier killed in action as Cpl Dionisio Andio.

Five of Andio's companions, S/Sgt Antonio Estrera, Cpl Roland Abon, Pfc Delfin Uson and Ptes Ricky Espinosa and Randy Ismael, were wounded in the ensuing firefight.

Eid Kabalu, MILF's spokesman, has denied insinuations that they have plans of launching attacks now that the month-long Ramadan fasting season is over.

Kabulu admitted that MILF rebels indeed converged in Sultan sa Barongis last Friday, but clarified they were there for a Kanduli, or thanksgiving prayer and not to terrorize civilians.

Hours after the hostilities in Sultan sa Barongis, a group of MILF rebels opened fire on soldiers patrolling the border of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao and Columbio, Sultan Kudarat.

Sources from the Army's 301st Brigade said although outnumbered, the patrolling soldiers managed to outmanoeuvre the rebels, led by a certain Faisal Kisain, who is long wanted for a string of heinous offences, including kidnapping and extortion.

Kisain and his followers fled after sensing that army reinforcements had started closing in, leaving behind an M16 rifle, assorted ammunition, and B-40 anti-tank rockets.