- Title: PHILIPPINES: MILITARY HUNTS MOSLEM REBELS RESPONSIBLE FOR TOWN MASSACRE.
- Date: 6th April 1995
- Summary: (APRIL 6, 1995) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV TRUCKLOAD OF SOLDIERS ARRIVING 0.11 2. SV SOLDIERS GETTING OFF 0.15 3. SV CIVILIANS ON MOTORBIKE FLEEING AREA/SOLDIERS (3 SHOTS) 0.38 4. SLV SOLDIERS ON PATROL/ SOLDIER TALKING ON RADIO (7 SHOTS) 1.13 5. MCU MAJOR YURONG COMMANDER OF THE 5TH INFANTRY BATTALION SPEAKING 1.34 6. GV/LV MOUNTAIN WITH SMOKE RISING (3 SHTOS) 1.48 SEQ.5: TRANSCRIPT: "THE GROUP OF BANDITS WHO ATTACKED IPIL IS ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN 150-200. AS OF NOW THEY ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE GROUPS, BUT WE ARE NOT SURE HOW MANY MEN PER GROUP." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 21st April 1995 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: R.T. LIM, NEAR IPIL, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES
- City:
- Country: Phillippines
- Reuters ID: LVABFT1MAVJ20EFE13B3XYKBSXA5
- Story Text: Five hostages have been shot dead in a series of vicious running firefights after Philippine troops on Thursday (April 6) launched an all-out offensive against fleeing Moslem rebels.
At least six rebels were killed, and possibly many more, the military said.
Residents and local officials said the Moslem rebels, remnants of a heavily-armed force which devastated the southern town of Ipil on Tuesday (April 4), were occupying a group of small villages.
The five hostages, who were killed on Friday, belonged to a group of 26 hostages seized from Ipil - at least another 14 hostages are thought to have been taken from other villages.
Troops were reported to have come within 30 metres (yards) of the rebels and a soldier just back from the operation said the rebels were using the hostages as "human shields." Government reinforcements including special forces units were being flown into the area in preparation for a major offensive.
In Manila, President Fidel Ramos sacked the commanding officer of the military's Southern Command after government officials admitted "intelligence lapses" by security forces over the Ipil raid.
In a handwritten note released to the press by the presidential palace, Ramos ordered Brigadier-General Regino Lacson relieved of his command.
He also replaced the commander of the 102nd infantry brigade which officials said was based near Ipil.
Some 200 Moslem extremists raided the coastal town on Tuesday, killing 45 people and setting the town centre ablaze.
Thousands have fled the area to escape the fighting.
A military helicopter carrying interior minister Rafael Alunan and national police chief Ricardo Sarmiento reportedly came under fire as it flew over the operations area.
The aircraft was not hit but its door gunner returned fire, reporters following in a second helicopter said.
The military had said it was aware that radical Moslems had been planning an attack but thought it would be another major town on Mindanao island, some 800 km (500 miles) south of Manila.
Moslem community and political leaders told Reuters the Ipil attack was the result of months of planning by radicals and was meant as a signal that Moslem patience was running out.
The government has been holding peace talks with the main rebel movement, the Moro National Liberation Front.
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