ELEVEN suspected members of the Moro Islamic Liberation  Front  (MILF) were killed while two policemen were wounded in a shootout the other day in Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr. identified two of the fatalities as Kamsa Asdanal, alleged leader of the group, and his son Omar Asdanal alias “Police,” and nine members of the  group.

Taken to  Zamboanga City Medical Center were PO1 Jesus Dumadaog and Senior Insp. Philmore Demagat.

Cruz said the shootout occurred at around  9 a.m. at the hideout of the lawless group.

Joint police and Armed Forces troops were serving a warrant of arrest for double murder and attempted murder to the elder Asdanal when he and his men fired on the lawmen, prompting them to returnfire, killing the MILF rebels and wounding the two cops.

Director Felicisimo Khu of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation (DIPO) Western Minda-nao,  said  Commander Kamsa and his group has no pending warrants of arrest for their involvement in kidnapping activities because their victims refused to file charges against them for fear of retaliation from his group.

Their last victim, Maria Cris Cuartocruz, was abducted last December  and was released early this month after paying P1.3 million in ransom.

It was learned that Kamsa’s group also provide refuge and security to other KFR group especially  the group of Waning Abdusalam who is wanted for several kidnapping cases.

Records showed that Commander Kamsa and his group are responsible for extortion of fishing vessels in Zamboanga Peninsula, including bus companies.

Recovered at the encounter site were four garand rifles, two M14 rifles, an M-16 rifle, an M79, a caliber .45 pistol, eight magazines of M14 and a magazine for M-16.

Joint elements of Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Police Office led by Senior Supt. Ruben Cariaga and Special Forces of  the Army 18th Infantry Battalion conducted pursuit operations in the area.