November 30, 2000, The Philippine Star, Soldiers overrun MILF complex in Maguindanao, by John Unson,

November 30, 2000, The Philippine Star, Soldiers overrun MILF complex in Maguindanao, by John Unson,

COTABATO CITY – Soldiers overran and destroyed yesterday a newly built defense complex of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Buldon, Maguindanao. The complex had nine bunkers where MILF rebels kept dozens of cattle stolen from farmers in nearby towns. 

Maj. Julieto Ando, spokesman of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said about 50 rebels guarding the periphery of the camp opened fire on patrolling members of the 27th Infantry Battalion, triggering a running gunbattle. 

Ando said the rebels abandoned the defense complex, built atop a strategic hill in Barangay Karit, Buldon town, after sensing that the soldiers had started closing in. Officials of Buldon and Barira towns confirmed that four rebels were killed in the firefight. Two of them were identified as Gedsa Kamarudin and Sarapudin Giok, both wanted for a string of criminal cases, including kidnapping. 

"The soldiers were sent to Barangay Karit at the request of Muslim civilians who had sought our help to check the presence of their stolen farm animals inside that MILF camp," Ando said. Police reports showed that from Sept. 1 to Nov. 15, MILF rebels carted away 158 farm animals during attacks in far- flung villages of Maguindanao and North Cotabato. — John Unson