Militants attack Basilan army post

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 16, 2010) – Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants whose group is tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya attacked a military post in the troubled province of Basilan, south of Zamboanga City.

Police said the attack occurred Monday in Sumisip town, but troops repulsed the militants headed by Puruji Indama, who is on the list of the government’s most wanted terrorists in the southern Philippines.

“We have doubled our security in the province to protect the civilians from possible attacks by terrorists,” said Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza, commander of police forces in Basilan.

The attack coincided with reports that some 100 militants from the province of Sulu landed in Basilan.

The Abu Sayyaf, which means “bearer of the sword,” was blamed for the spate of terrorism and kidnappings in the southern Philippines. Two Chinese nationals were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan last year. (Mindanao Examiner)