DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES - The Delinanas Banana Plantation became the scene of a firefight last Monday, as 50 armed bandits led by Sukarno Sultan and Lingguna Sultan of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters clashed with Philippine troops in a battle that lasted over an hour according to local estimates. When the shots subsided, one of the gunman was dead and farm equipment belonging to Delinanas had been set aflame. According to the Tempo New the total cost of the damages were valued at $1,380,000.
In the wake of the attack Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command said he will be keeping his troops on high alert and that he plans to step up actions against the lawless bands which threaten the Philippine population, according to the Mindanao Examiner.
“We are doing our best to protect the socio-economic and industrial centers and secure our people and their ways of life from unnecessary threats and intimidation by lawless and criminal elements,” he said.
Abu Misry, a spokesman for the BIFF, said that the attacks were instiaged by the recent arrest of a Moro farmer and his son in Datu Unsay town in Maguindanao. Tempo News reported that for their part, Army officials deny having either of the men in custody.
Hopefully Monday's events will mark both the start and the end to the violence over this dispute. Whether or not we will be so fortunate however will be something that only time can tell.
