Five civilians were hurt when Muslim separatist rebels attacked a southern Philippine village, torching at least 15 houses, the military said yesterday. About 50 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels stormed the village of Dapiawan in Datu Piang town, Maguindanao province, 930km south of Manila, on Sunday.Lieutenant Colonel Julieto Ando, a regional army spokesman, said the rebels first set on fire to a building housing government militiamen in Dapiawan. Four hours later, the guerrillas “harassed” government troops, triggering a firefight. The rebels also burned down at least 15 houses of civilians, Ando said. “Five civilians were hurt as they were caught in the crossfire,” he said. “The rebels also carted away peoples’ important belongings.”
Ando said the harassment only stopped after intervention by an international team monitoring a ceasefire between the MILF and the Philippine government. “This is a serious violation and we will file a protest,” he said.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the incident was the result of a personal grudge. He said an MILF commander retaliated against village officials after his 9-year-old daughter was hurt in a recent ambush by local security men.