Incident Summary:
08/18/2008: On Monday night, at least 200 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels seized a main highway in Lanao del Norte province, raiding five coastal towns near Tangcal city, Lanao del Norte province, Philippines. Rebels shot and killed or hacked to death 33 civilians, at least three soldiers and a policeman. They also burned several houses and displaced about 44,000 residents. Retreating rebels took 63 hostages as human shields but released them early Tuesday morning on 08/19/2008 upon escaping. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu stated that the attack was carried out by commander Adbdullah Macapaar, alias "Bravo," without the group's authority and would face consequences for his actions. Kabalu also said the rebels were frustrated after the Supreme Court blocked a preliminary agreement with the rebels calling for an expanded autonomous region.
Overview
GTD ID:
200808180011
When:
2008-08-18
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Southeast Asia
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Lanao del Norte
City:
Near Tangcal
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Armed Assault |
Type of Attack () |
Hostage Taking (Kidnapping) |
Type of Attack () |
Facility/Infrastructure Attack |
Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Military |
Name of Entity |
Filipino Military |
Specific Description |
Tangcal city Military soldiers were also targeted. |
Nationality of Target |
Philippines |
Target Type: Police |
Name of Entity |
Tangcal city Law Enforcement |
Specific Description |
Tangcal city policemen were also targeted. |
Nationality of Target |
Philippines |
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property |
Name of Entity |
|
Specific Description |
Civilian residents of nearby Tangcal city villages and their houses |
Nationality of Target |
Philippines |
Additional Information
Hostages |
Yes |
Number of Hostages |
63 |
US Hostages |
0 |
Days of Kidnapping |
1 |
Outcome |
Hostage(s) released by perpetrators |
Ransom |
No |
Property Damage |
Yes |
Extent of Property Damage |
Unknown |
Value of Property Damage |
Unknown |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Firearms |
Unknown Gun Type |
Melee |
Knife or Other Sharp Object |
Incendiary |
Arson/Fire |
Weapon Details |
Unknown firearms were used in the firearm attack, unknown sharp weapons were used in the melee attack and an unknown incendiary device was used in the arson attack. |
Additional Information
Suicide Attack? | No |
Part of Multiple Incident? | Yes |
Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Doubt Terrorism Proper () |
No |
Who
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
200 |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
0 |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
37 Fatalities / 0 Injured |
Total Number of Fatalities |
37 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
Total Number of Injured |
0 |
Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
GMA News, "Central Mindanao Towns Tense after Moro Rebel Raids," August 19, 2008, http://www.gmanews.tv/story/114724/(Update)-Central-Mindanao-towns-tense-after-Moro-rebel-raids#. |
GMA News, "MILF Frees 62 Hostages, Hold on to 8," August 19, 2008, http://www.gmanews.tv/story/114655/MILF-frees-62-hostages-hold-on-to-8---police#. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties