Military: Cops attacked in Philippine Maguindanao province

Military: Cops attacked in Philippine Maguindanao province

www.chinaview.cn 2009-12-08 12:09:53 Print

SHARIFF AGUAK, Philippines, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Philippine policemen were fired upon late Monday night when they were patrolling in a town in the southern province of Maguindanao, the second such incident since Sunday night, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, a local military spokesman, told reporters that the shooting occurred at the border of Datu Saudi and Datu Unsay townships but there is no casualty on the government side.

It was the second clash since Manila imposed a military rule in the province following the Nov. 23 mass killing of 57 people, including 30 journalists there. Andal Ampatuan Jr., mayor of Datu Unsay, was arrested and charged as a prime suspect of the massacre.

Patrolling cops were fired upon late Sunday night in Datu Unsay town, which prompted law enforcement men to fire back. No government casualties were reported in the shooting.

The authorities are going after other members of the Ampatuan clan and said the family's around 2,300 para-military soldiers running at large pose a serious threat to the peace and stability in the region.

Earlier, Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, martial law administrator in the province, told reporters that several armed followers of Ampatuans have joined forces with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a claim denied by the rebel group.

The Ampatuans have ruled Maguindanao since 2001.