The Philippine police on Friday identified six Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and two Abu Sayyaf leaders as responsible for the ambush-killing of 14 government soldiers, 10 of them beheaded on July 10.
One of the MILF leaders, identified as Hamsa Sapantun, is the " chairman" of the MILF forces operating in the southern province of Basilan, Western Mindanao Regional Police Office director Chief Joel Goltiao told reporters.
The five other MILF leaders linked to the atrocity were Not Muddalan, alias Not; Suhud Limaya, alias Hud; Sulaiman Murata; Hadji Dan Asnawi, alias Adan and Furuji Mas-ud, according to Goltiao.
The two leaders of the Abu Sayyaf named by Goltiao were Furufi Indama and Nurhasan Kallitut Jamiri. The Abu Sayyaf, one of the groups listed by United States in its list of foreign terrorist organizations, has alleged linkages with Al Qaida network.
Goltiao said the names were contained in a report sent to the office of Philippine National Police chief.
On July 10, the Marine soldiers were on their way back to their base in Basilan province after a search for a kidnapped Italian priest when they were ambushed by at least 300 armed men.
The MILF leadership admitted that its men were involved in the July 10 fighting but denied that they were behind the beheading.
The Philippine military called off its "punitive" operations against the MILF to give way to an investigation jointly being undertaken by the government and the MILF, whose representatives are presently in Basilan.
ource: Xinhua
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