Six civilians killed as suspected Moro rebels attack village

TACURONG CITY, Philippines--Six civilians were killed as suspected Moro rebels stormed a village in Senator Ninoy Aquino town in Sultan Kudarat on Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, 6th Division spokesperson, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone on Wednesday, that an undetermined number of Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels under the 104th Base Command fired rockets and high powered assorted weapons as they arrived in the village at around 2:30 p.m. Ando said another civilian was wounded.

"We have dispatched troops to the area to hunt down the attackers," Ando said.

Eid Kabalu, MILF civil military affairs chief, denied the military's accusation.

"There was no harassment that happened yesterday. The military is just preempting the situation in the area," Kabalu said on Wednesday.

"Apparently, the residents are apprehensive of possible attacks but I talked to our men on the ground and we found out there was no harassment," Kabalu said.

However, town municipal social welfare officer Edmund Corder said over 400 families left their homes in the village of Midtungo.

The military has been hunting MILF Commander Ameril Umbra Kato who was responsible for the series of attacks in the region.(By Jeoffrey Maitem; INQ.net)