The Philippine military accused Muslim rebels Wednesday of killing 19 soldiers on a remote southern island in one of the worst outbreaks of violence between the two sides in years. The fighting further complicated efforts to end one of Asia’s longest insurgencies, with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the military trading accusations of breaking a ceasefire in place to promote peace talks.
The military said troops were on the hunt for members of the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in the jungles of Basilan island when MILF rebels ambushed them, triggering a nine-hour clash. Nineteen soldiers died, 13 were wounded and three remained missing, regional military commander Lieutenant General Raymundo Ferrer told reporters. “We shall not only file ceasefire violations against them, but also murder chargers against their members who are responsible for killing and wounding our soldiers,” Ferrer said.
The military initially reported that 13 soldiers had been killed in the fighting, and that six troops were taken hostage. But the bodies of the six soldiers were found on Wednesday, prompting allegations from the military that they had been killed while in captivity. “They were definitely murdered… they were were still alive last night,” army spokesman Antonio Parlade said in Manila.
