Philippine military accused of violating truce with Muslim rebels

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front ( MILF) accused Tuesday the Philippine military of violating the ceasefire agreement after the Philippine Army's 602nd Infantry Brigade allegedly fired mortar rounds Monday night to rebel forces in southern province of Cotabato. The largest Muslim rebel group MILF, citing a field report, said that at about 6:14 p.m. Monday, just a few minutes after the MILF forces under the 108th Base Command in Matalam, Cotabato broke their Ramadan Fasting, the Philippine Army troops started to fire mortars which did not stop until 10:00 p.m. Monday. While the government soldiers were bombarding the MILF forces, the troops of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a former Muslim secessionist group, started their ground attacks against the MILF forces in West Patadon village in Matalam town, MILF said. But the MILF said its forces did not retaliate as "we are fully committed to the ceasefire accord between the government and MILF forces." The MILF Ceasefire Committee had repeatedly asked its counterpart with the government to stop the involvement of the 602nd Brigade as "they have been blatantly violating the ceasefire accord," the group said. Instead of attacking the MILF forces, the 602nd Brigade should help in the efforts to resolve the problem in Matalam, said the committee, adding "this is the best thing to do for us being partners." MILF, the country's largest rebel group which has been pushing for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao, signed a peace framework agreement with the Philippine government last October.