Sayyaf man killed in fresh clashes in South RP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 23, 2010) – Security forces killed an Abu Sayyaf militant in a firefight that broke out Tuesday in the southern Filipino province of Sulu, officials told the Mindanao Examiner.

Officials said troops recovered the body of the slain militant in the hinterland village of Bungkaong in Patikul town.

“This is still part of the pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf following the encounter at Karawan (complex) in Indanan town,” said Army First Lieutenant Steffani Cacho, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command.

Cacho was referring to the fighting Sunday in Sulu that killed a wanted Abu Sayyaf leader, Albader Parad, and five other militants.

She said there were no reports of military casualties in the latest fighting, but troops were pursuing a band of Abu Sayyaf under sub-leader Basarun Ahaduk.

Last week’s fighting killed a government soldier and wounded three more after a platoon of marine special unit and reconnaissance soldiers assaulted an Abu Sayyaf camp in Karawan, a mountain complex straddling several towns and a known lair of the militants.

Lieutenant General Benjamin Dolorfino, the regional military commander, said among those killed was Albader Parad, tagged as behind the kidnappings last year of three international Red Cross workers in Sulu province.

Dolorfino said troops fought Abu Sayyaf forces under Albader Parad and Abu Jumdail, also known as Doctor Abu because of his alleged ability to cure wounded militants.

Both leaders are wanted by Philippine authorities for their involvements in the kidnappings of American citizens and the killing of two US Special Forces soldiers in Sulu in the past. (Mindanao Examiner)