Thursday, August 24, 2006
Soldier killed, 4 others wounded in fierce fighting in Sulu
By Al Jacinto and Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA -- Abu Sayyaf gunmen killed a government soldier in fierce fighting Wednesday in Patikul town in Jolo island, where security forces are battling militants, blamed for the string of bombings and kidnappings in the southern Philippines, officials said.
The slain soldier belonged to the Army Scout Ranger. Four others were wounded in sporadic clashes between government troops and al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf in the hinterland of Sulu, a military official disclosed here Wednesday.
Lieutenant Colonel Susthenes Valcorza, information officer of the Armed Forces Southern Command, said the clashes started around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday when troops strike an Abu Sayyaf camp in Mount Sinumaan in the town of Patikul.
"Sporadic clashes continue until this time," Valcorza said in an interview Wednesday afternoon. "The troops continue to pursue the enemy," he added.
Valcorza said the Abu Sayyaf Group has suffered casualties in the ensuing sporadic firefight but no figure was immediately available saying "they recover and hide their casualties."
The offensive was launched August 1, following reports that some 200 Abu Sayyaf bandits and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists were converging in the outskirts of Indanan town.
Bali bombing masterminds Umar Patek and Dulmatin were among the JI militants that were sighted in the company of Abu Sayyaf top leader Khadafy Janjalani.
The offensive named Oplan Ultimatum was shifted to the adjoining towns of Patikul and Talipao after the terrorists fled to the two areas.
Patikul, the site of Wednesday's sporadic clashes, is said to be the turf of one-armed Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron, the oldest among the bandit commanders.
So far, the Abu Sayyaf has suffered 11 fatalities since the start of the offensive on August 1, 2006.
One of the slain bandits was mid-level leader Ismin Sahiron, the son of Radulan, who is being groomed to be the successor of his father.
Valcorza said it was not yet immediately reported who is the leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group that are found encamped in Mount Sinumaan, Patikul.
Last week, the military has tightened security in Jolo after troops seized 6,000 blasting caps and ten sacks of ammonium nitrate used by the Abu Sayyaf group to manufacture improvised explosives.
The military said a man, Mujahiri Malik, who was allegedly transporting the explosives, was arrested, but his companion, a woman, had escaped and is being hunted by security forces.
Washington has offered as much as $10 million bounty for Dulmatin and $1 million for Patek's capture and another $5 million for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Khadaffy Janjalani, its chieftain. President Gloria Arroyo also put up P100 million rewards for the capture of the group's leaders and their members dead or alive. (Sunnex)
(August 24, 2006 issue)
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