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Friday, August 10, 2007
9 soldiers killed, 2 wounded in Sulu ambush
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Nine soldiers died while two others were injured Thursday when they were ambushed by al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf guerillas in the hinterlands of Sulu, where offensive operation continues against foreign and local terrorists.
The attack took place a day after government troops clashed with the bandits in the town of Parang, also in Sulu, resulting in the death of an Army soldier and three Abu Sayyaf guerillas.
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In the Thursday incident, the victims were aboard a military truck when ambushed by the bandits at around 7:30 a.m. in the town of Maimbung.
The casualties belong to the Army's 33rd Infantry Battalion, one of the military units deployed to pursue the Abu Sayyaf bandits believed to be sheltering Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists Umar Patek and Dulmatin.
Western Mindanao Command information officer Major Eugenio Batara Jr. said pursuit operation has been launched in Maimbung against the attackers, who are believed to be followers of Sahiron.
Sahiron is the oldest leader among Abu Sayyaf bandits based in the island province of Sulu.
Other lawless elements were believed to have aided the Abu Sayyaf in staging the ambush.
Batara said one of Sahiron's trusted men, Marad Astig, was killed in a clash Wednesday afternoon in Barangay Sinugan, Indanan town.
A soldier was also killed while five others were wounded in that clash in Barangay Sinugan.
Two Marine soldiers were also wounded last Tuesday in an encounter with the bandits in Mt. Tubora, Indanan.
Thousands of troops are scouring the hinterlands of Sulu for Patek and Dulmatin and the remaining leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf accused of kidnapping and beheading hostages in the past years.
Patek and Dulmatin were tagged as the masterminds in the 2002 resort bombing in Bali, Indonesia that killed 200 mostly Caucasian tourists. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (August 10, 2007 issue)
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