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Sunday, August 17, 2008
Abu Sayyaf bandits gun down 2 Marines
MANILA -- Two Marines were killed in an ambush by suspected al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandits Saturday morning, a military spokesman said.
The two Marines, who were intelligence operatives, were passing through sitio Japi Tunggal, Kandayuk village outside Panamao town on Jolo island when their motorcycle broke down, Navy spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Arevalo said.
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The Abu Sayyaf gunmen attacked them around 6 a.m. after they stopped to fix the motorcycle, Arevalo added.
The attack was reportedly made to avenge the recent arrest and death of the brother of an Abu Sayyaf member identified as Amirul.
Arevalo said around 30 bandits fired upon the victims, who have yet to be identified by the authorities.
He added that pursuit operations were already launched against the attackers.
On Friday, security forces have arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf in Lamitan City in Basilan.
Arevalo identified the arrested suspect as Aseng Sahibul, who has a pending case of kidnapping and serious illegal detention before the courts.
Arevalo said intelligence personnel from the Marines, Navy and the police arrested Sahibul around 11:20 a.m. on Friday by virtue of a warrant issued by a Basilan court.
The United States and the European Union have listed the Abu Sayyaf as a terror group because its members have been involved in kidnappings, bombings and beheadings.
The Abu Sayyaf bandits were blamed for the 2004 bombing of a ferry in Manila Bay that killed 116 people.
Weakened by US-backed military offensives, the Abu Sayyaf has largely been on the run in Jolo and nearby island strongholds in recent years with only about 300 fighters - down from more than 1,000 eight years ago. (AP/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (August 17, 2008 issue)
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