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Friday, July 06, 2007
Gunmen linked to Sayyaf killed in Basilan clash
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Troops belonging to the Philippine Marines killed two gunmen, including a leader of a lawless group with ties to the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, in a firefight Thursday in the nearby island province of Basilan.
Colonel Ramiro Alivio, chief of the 1st Marine Brigade, said the firefight took place around 9 a.m. in Barangay Bohe Bessey in the newly created town of Akbar.
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Field report identified the slain gunmen as a certain Panjang and Ladji Mohammad, who were operating in Akbar town, according to Alivio.
He said the troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 8 have also recovered two high-powered firearms -- M14 and M-16 assault rifles -- from the slain bandits.
Lieutenant Colonel Felix Almadrones, chief of the MBLT 8, said in a separate interview the firefight that ensued was a chance encounter between his troops and the bandits.
Almadrones said he dispatched his personnel to check the reported citing of an armed group composed of around 20 people in the area when the clash took place.
"They are involved in different atrocities in the area," Almadrones said.
He said they have strengthened intelligence operations following the recent reported landings of armed men in the coast of Basilan.
The military has tightened its cordon in the nearby province of Sulu, where it is launching a new offensive against Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists and Abu Sayyaf bandits. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (July 6, 2007 issue)
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