Free Republic

Several months ago I rode a ferry from Zamboanga, Philippines to Sabah, Malaysia. During the trip I met two Muslim traders that lived in Zamboanga.

During a conversation Obama came up. They said Obama is a Muslim due to his father being a Muslim. They were angry Obama was denying his true religion, but understood his reasons. They want Obama to announce his muslim faith and be elected as a Muslim.

Hundreds of residents left their homes after a group of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters raided a village in Pigkawayan town in Cotabato province on Tuesday.

Pigkawayan Mayor Jun Garseza said 100 families fled their homes after some 200 members of the MILF’s 105th Base Command raided Sitio Hacienda Maria, Barangay Balogo.

The mayor said the MILF fighters under the command of Ameril Umbra Kato fired their guns indiscriminately at the surprised residents of Sitio Hacienda Maria.

A civilian auxiliary member identified as Salvador Brigido was killed by the rebels, the mayor said.

The mayor said the rebels left immediately after the harassment.

A radio dzMM report said members of the Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion were dispatched to augment the Pigkawayan police and secure the area.

Pursuit operations have also been launched by the police and the military against the fleeing rebels.

The attack came even as the police and the military in the province are on full alert due to the hostilities.

Violence in Mindanao sparked after the government’s peace panel and the MILF failed to sign a memorandum of agreement that creates a Bangsamoro homeland.

Meanwhile, military ordnance operatives were able to recover an improvised explosive device alleged planted by MILF members in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

The bomb was made of 90mm and 81mm mortars with a transceiver radio as a triggering device.

The military said the improvised bomb has been diffused by the ordnance operatives.

as of 10/14/2008 2:33 PM

11E40, 2nd plt, C Troop, 3/4 Cav