June 22, 2000, The Philippine Star, Two more MILF camps overrun,

Two more camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have fallen, the military said yesterday. Camp Jabal Jud, situated near the towns of Polomolok and T'boli in South Cotabato, fell after a day of fighting last Tuesday. Camp Ednu Harris, located near the towns of Pa-galungan and Pikit in North Cotabato, fell on the same day.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes said yesterday they might capture all of the MILF's camps -- except Camp Abubakar in Maguindanao province -- by the end of the month. Camp Abubakar is the MILF's main base. Reyes said the MILF has nine camps left, including Abubakar.

"All camps surrounding Camp Abubakar will be taken over next week or within a couple of days," Reyes told reporters, adding that the MILF should now "realize the futility of war and the inevitability of their defeat." The government plans to pen the MILF inside Camp Abubakar to prevent them from launching attacks and force them to sue for peace.

The relentless military offensive has stirred calls for a ceasefire from various sectors, but were ignored by Malacañang which claimed the rebels would use the time to rebuild their forces. Muslim groups in Metro Manila and in provinces north and south of the capital will meet either in Quezon or Ilocos Norte this weekend to discuss the situation and take a common stand.

Col. Delfin Lorenzana, commander of the Army's 601st Infantry Brigade, said the attack on Camp Jabal Jud began last Monday with howitzers and mortars. Soldiers, led by the 2nd Special Forces Battalion, advanced early Tuesday morning.

An estimated 120 rebels retaliated with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars before retreating by noon. No casualties on both sides were reported in the attacks on Jabal Jud and Ednu Harris.

The capture of Camp Jabal Jud came less than a week after Camp Jabal Sur - - considered the largest MILF base in the province -- in Banga town fell to government forces last Saturday. Just last week, another MILF base, Camp Rajah Muda, situated near the towns of Pagalungan and Pikit in North Cotabato, was captured.

Soldiers are now securing the area to prevent a possible rebel counter-attack, said Brig. Gen. Gregorio Camiling Jr., Army 6th Infantry Division commander. Troops clashed with rebels in the nearby village of Kudal, the birthplace of MILF leader Hashim Salamat. No casualties on both sides were reported.

The battle for Camp Jabal Jud forced an estimated 70 families to flee their homes and seek refuge in a public school in Polomolok. The military found bomb-making materials and documents on MILF trainees in the camp, leading them to believe that the base is used for training MILF guerrillas. "It is a big possibility that this group was responsible for the previous bombings in General Santos City," said 1Lt. Nestor Mondia, who led the ground attack.

A rash of bombings last month killed three people and wounded 70 others in the city last month. The MILF denied any responsibility. Since February six major MILF camps have fallen: Omar, Usman, John Mack and Bilal in Lanao del Norte; Bushra, the second biggest MILF base, in Lanao del Sur; and Sarmiento in Matanog, Maguindanao.

In Davao Oriental, tension forced the suspension of classes in the towns of Mati, Tarragona and Lupon. Local education officials said the MILF is reportedly planning to launch bomb attacks, but the rebels denied it. The MILF has a base, Camp Salappudin, near Tarragona.

The military offensive has forced hundreds of thousands of residents to flee their homes and seek refuge in evacuation centers where conditions are often poor. Poor sanitation and a shortage of medicine have led to an outbreak of illnesses. In Maguindanao, 38 people from different evacuation centers -- 31 of them children -- have died from diarrhea and other water-borne illnesses.

The situation is also beginning to take its toll on government social workers who usually complain of fatigue and shabby treatment from evacuees "who shout at them and demand for just anything from them." A local social welfare official in Pikit, North Cotabato said "even mayors would shout at them publicly," adding to the social workers' frustration. Meanwhile, troops near the town of Kalawit in Zamboanga del Norte are combing the mountains for two teachers kidnapped by MILF rebels last Monday.

Edna Quimiging and Elizabeth Proferio were snatched by a band led by one Commander Yacub Basug while they were about to enter Paraiso Elementary School. -- Paolo Romero, Matthew Estabillo, John Unson, Edith Regalado, Jaime Laude, Liberty Dones