MILF raid leaves prison guard dead

Despite heavy losses a few weeks ago, the Philippines’ Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is still waging war in that country’s southern region. This time, they attacked a prison in North Cotabato, hoping to free “high-value government targets.” From PhilStar:

Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman, said the MILF rebels engaged prison guards and members of Task Force North Cotabato at the provincial jail at Brgy. Amas, Kidapawan City, around 2:30 a.m. today.

North Cotabato deputy chief Superintendent Jose Kalimutan said the rebels fired rockets and automatic rifles at prison guards and policemen in a firefight that lasted for one hour.

“Our men engaged in almost an hour (of) firefight with the rebels. We lost one of our jail guards and three others were wounded,” Kalimutan said.

The fatality was identified as Jake Rosales, a prison guard. The three wounded were rushed to a local hospital.

Ponce said the MILF members tried to bolt out high-profile inmates, mostly members of the MILF’s special operations group.

“This rescue attempt to free their comrades who were trained in the manufacture of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) is a manifestation that the MILF have plans for more bombing sorties to create chaos in Central Mindanao,” he said.

via One killed, 3 wounded in MILF attack on North Cotabato jail | PhilStar.