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Thursday, February 17, 2005
Gov't troops capture Muslim rebels' key stronghold
BITAN-AG -- Hundreds of ecstatic soldiers hoisted the Philippine flag Wednesday in a key Muslim rebel stronghold after ousting militants blamed for a recent attack on an army post and bombings in Manila and two other cities.
Lieutenant General Alberto Braganza, commander of the military's Southern Command, flew by helicopter with local officials to Bitan-ag, a fortified hinterland camp near Panamao town that troops wrested from armed followers of jailed Muslim rebel leader Nur Misuari after days of fierce gun battles.
"This is the victory of the Filipino people," Braganza told troops and marines after the flag-raising ceremony. "We will continue this campaign against lawlessness and terrorism no matter what the cost."
A soldier crumpled a rebel banner and flag as other troops erupted in cheers.
About 100 to 200 gunmen apparently abandoned Bitan-ag, a sprawling training encampment with two wooden watchtowers, underground bomb shelters, a parade ground and a one-story building that served as headquarters and home of rebel commander Habier Malik. Two large portraits of Misuari adorned the walls.
Malik was reportedly wounded in a clash but was not captured, said Lieutenant Colonel Elmer Estopin, who led a marine contingent, along with army troops, that advanced into Bitan-ag.
Troops were pursuing the gunmen, who fled in small groups toward Jolo's mountainous center as the military moved in Tuesday afternoon.
After suffering heavy casualties in the clashes, military officials brimmed with pride over the capture of the camp, which they plan to turn into an army detachment and name after battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Villanueva, who was killed with two of his men last Thursday.
Braganza pinned Gold Cross medals--the military's highest combat award--on 10 soldiers.
About 3,000 soldiers and marines have been pursuing Misuari's followers--backed by Abu Sayyaf guerrillas--since they attacked an army detachment in Panamao on Feb. 7, provoking clashes that killed 27 soldiers and wounded 72 others. Troops have killed 37 gunmen and wounded scores of others, the military said.
The rebel attacks were apparently a retaliation for the death of a number of people, including a child, who were caught in crossfire when troops assaulted a community of Misuari's followers while pursuing suspected Abu Sayyaf members.
Abu Sayyaf claimed responsibility for bombings Monday in Manila's financial district and the southern cities of General Santos and Davao, which killed seven people and wounded at least 123, apparently to divert the military's attention and ease the pressure on the beleaguered gunmen on Jolo, the military said.
Despite the attacks, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Tuesday that the military assaults on Jolo would continue. She vowed to crush the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf.
Security forces were placed on full alert nationwide to thwart more bombings.
Arroyo's office said that it was studying a proposal for her to place Jolo and other violence-wracked regions under a state of emergency, which would give her more power to use the military to deal with security threats. Leftist groups have denounced the proposal, saying it would endanger democracy.
Misuari formerly headed the Moro National Liberation Front, a large Muslim separatist group that accepted limited autonomy and signed a peace accord with the government in 1996.
But violence reignited years later and Misuari was imprisoned near Manila on charges of rebellion. Many of his armed followers have peacefully settled in Jolo but have been periodically accused of protecting Abu Sayyaf guerrillas. (AP)
(February 17, 2005 issue)
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