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Friday, November 21, 2008
Abu Sayyaf attacks American troops in Sulu
MANILA -- American troops traveling in a Philippine Army convoy came under fire from suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Jolo, the capital town of Sulu province, the US Embassy reported Thursday.
Embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson said only one US military vehicle was in the convoy and there were no casualties on either the American or Philippine side.
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Philippine marines and police said the convoy of military vehicles was on its way to inspect an infrastructure project in Indanan town Tuesday when six alleged members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group opened fire.
Regional police director Bensali Jabarani, however, said a militant was killed in the clash.
Also on Thursday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo canceled a plane trip to Jolo due to poor weather. She was supposed to attend the Bishops-Ulama conference as part of the government's efforts to end the Mindanao conflict.
A day earlier, government forces announced the arrest of a suspected Abu Sayyaf bomber allegedly behind the failed attempt to bomb an airport in Jolo, Sulu.
Colonel Eugenio Clemen, chief of the 3rd Marine Brigade, said the bomber was identified as Almid Jundam, a resident of Lantong village in Maimbung town.
He was arrested by troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 4 headed by Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Caculitan while about to withdraw money from a bank Tuesday morning in the village of Walled City, Jolo.
Clemen said that Jundam is a follower of Abu Sayyaf mid-level leader Gafur Jumdail, who is an explosive expert.
Several dozen US troops are stationed in Jolo to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians as well as counterterrorism support to Filipino forces battling the militants. However, they rarely have come under attack and are tightly guarded by Philippine troops whenever they venture out of their camp, which is inside a Philippine military base.
Still, there have been consistent intelligence reports from the Philippine police and military indicating the Abu Sayyaf may be planning attacks on American troops in Jolo.
Their presence in the Philippines since 2002 has been a sensitive issue, and the Philippine Constitution prohibited them from any combat roles.
Tuesday's attack highlights the vitality of the Abu Sayyaf group, which consists of about 300 militants notorious for kidnappings, beheading hostages and bombings. The group is also on the US list of terrorists.
They have been crippled by US-backed military offensives but still continue to be a threat in the country's volatile south.
Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, who heads the 8,000-strong Philippine marines, recently praised the US military's non-combat assistance, particularly the rapid provision of tactical intelligence, for having helped prevent terror attacks. (AP/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (November 21, 2008 issue)
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