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Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Army: Moro fighters in Jolo now less than 200
DAVAO CITY -- Fierce fighting on the island of Jolo in Sulu entered its ninth day Monday, but a military official said it was nearing its end, adding that Muslim rebel forces have now dwindled to less than 200.
Troops have mounted a full-scale offensive against hundreds of rebels hiding in a mountainous village in Sulu, choking off supplies of food and ammunition to force their surrender, added an Army commander Monday.
Weeklong clashes between government troops and rebels believed to be supporters of former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari have left more than 60 people dead.
In Manila, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the justice department to speed up the rebellion case against Misuari. Her directive followed reports that Misuari was giving his supporters in Jolo instructions from his detention cell.
Lieutenant General Alberto Braganza, Southern Command chief, said forces of rebel leader Ustadz Habier Malik in Jolo have now dwindled to less than 200.
He said the group was even breaking into small groups to avoid being crushed by government troops in one single blow.
Five Army and Marine battalions supported by elite Scout Rangers are now running after the rebels, said Brigadier General Agustin Dema-ala, who heads troops involved in the assault.
Dwindling food, ammunition
Dema-ala said the rebel group was running out of food and ammunition.
"We are blocking all places through which they can send supplies," he said, adding: "We are closing in on their main camp. There has been sporadic fighting and there are pockets of resistance but not very strong."
According to Braganza, aerial and combat engagement operations are ongoing and that there will be no let-up in the offensive until the enemy surrenders.
Braganza added the soldiers have already forced Malik's group into withdrawing to their last stronghold in the town of Panamao in Sulu.
The rebel camp consists of buildings, a parade area, trenches, bunkers and foxholes, Dema-ala said.
The gunmen, followers of Misuari, are reportedly backed Abu Sayyaf extremist guerrillas. They have recently attacked troops in the region, provoking the military offensive.
At least 30 soldiers have been killed and more than 50 others wounded in a week of clashes, officials said. The military said troops have killed 37 gunmen, all followers of Misuari.
Giving instructions
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said government has received reports that Misuari has been in touch with his followers from his detention cell "to give instructions, directives."
As a consequence, Misuari's police guards have been ordered not to allow the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) governor to make calls using his cellular phone, added Ermita.
Members of the central committee of the MNLF, which Misuari used to head, have brought the matter to government's attention when they asked why Misuari was allowed to talk to his commanders on the ground.
Ermita said Misuari's armed followers probably agreed to stage attacks on Army camps to "call attention" to the ex-MNLF leader's court case.
He admitted the need to hasten Ermita's case but added Misuari's lawyers are also to be blamed for the slow pace of his trial with their many petitions for postponement or questioning court jurisdiction.
Arroyo, however, has already directed the justice department to speed up his case so results should be seen in the next few days, Ermita pointed out.
Ermita said government is "looking at a quick finish to this problem" through the use of air assets and the deployment of additional troops.
3,000 troops
The government troops who are now deployed in Sulu to run after the rebels have reached 3,000 as of Monday, a military report said.
Just on Sunday, another battalion of soldiers was deployed there after Sunday's clash that left three soldiers dead and 13 others wounded.
On Monday morning, a C-130 cargo plane flew in to Jolo with about 250 troops from another province to relieve soldiers who been fighting for more than a week. Another cargo plane brought in barrels of fuel and boxes of medicine.
Braganza said the military offensive would only be called off when Malik's group was neutralized.
The fresh fighting raised to 30 the overall the death toll on the government side.
Braganza said local officials told the military the latest guerrilla fatalities included three commanders, one of them the younger brother of Malik, whom he did not identify.
The military said a total of 1,300 families were displaced as a result of the fighting.
In an updated travel advisory, New Zealand warned its citizens against travel to the southern Philippines, saying "there is some risk of terrorism and kidnapping." Last week, Britain also advised its citizens against traveling to the region because of the fierce fighting. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex Luzon/AP)
(February 15, 2005 issue)
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