Top, Philippine military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon and senior army commanders walk past an armored troop carrier in Patikul town in Jolo island on Monday, 14 Aug 2006. Second photo shows Esperon examining a dismantled Abu Sayyaf homemade bomb and third photo visiting the village of Bonbon also in Patikul. Last photo shows a poster of slain Abu Sayyaf militants. (Juan Magtanggol)PATIKUL, Sulu (Juan Magtanggol / 14 Aug) Abu Sayyaf militants attacked an army detachment before dawn Monday in Talipao town in Jolo island in the southern Philippines, officials said.
At least 11 militants were killed and six more wounded in three weeks of sporadic clashes on the island, where troops had been battling the Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the spate of attacks on military and civilian targets in the restive region.
One of the most senior Abu Sayyaf leaders, Albader Parad, was reported wounded in the fighting. "He was shot in the thigh and stomach and we are tracking him down," local Army commander, Col. Reynaldo Sealana, told the Zamboanga Journal.
The latest attack occurred at around 1 a.m. and triggered sporadic exchange of gun fires that continued well before sunrise, but officials said there were no reports of military casualties.
At least 11 militants were killed and six more wounded in three weeks of sporadic clashes on the island, where troops had been battling the Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the spate of attacks on military and civilian targets in the restive region.
One of the most senior Abu Sayyaf leaders, Albader Parad, was reported wounded in the fighting. "He was shot in the thigh and stomach and we are tracking him down," local Army commander, Col. Reynaldo Sealana, told the Zamboanga Journal.
The latest attack occurred at around 1 a.m. and triggered sporadic exchange of gun fires that continued well before sunrise, but officials said there were no reports of military casualties.
"We still don't know how many Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed, but we hit them hard. The operation is continuing against the terrorists," Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, the Philippine military chief, said in a separate interview.
Esperon was in Jolo on Monday and inspected troops on the battle front before meeting with senior commanders in the towns of Jolo, Indanan and Patikul, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group tied to the Indonesian Jemaah Islamiya terror network.
Two of JI's leaders, Umar Patek and Dulmatin, were believed to be with the group of Khadaffy Janjalani, the chieftain of the Abu Sayyaf, on the island. "We will get them sooner or later. We will pursue and neutralize them," he said without elaborating.
Esperon also inspected assorted bomb equipment and explosive devices recovered from a captured Abu Sayyaf camp in the hinterlands of Indanan town.
He told soldiers that President Gloria Arroyo was monitoring the offensive against the Abu Sayyaf and the hunt for Patek and Dulmatin in Jolo."The President is monitoring the progress of the offensive against the terrorists in Jolo," he said. "Let's not give the terrorists a chance to sow fear to the hearts of everyone, let's finish them off."
Esperon also left medical packs to soldiers and promised them more support to help defeat terrorism on Jolo. "We will provide you more support, weapons and reinforcements and communications and life support system to help in our fight against terrorism in Jolo," he said.
He also spoke with Muslim villagers in Patikul town, shaking hands with the elders and children. "The man is good and he looks so kind. He was talking to us and shaking hands with many people here," said Kasiri Panding, a fisherman in Bonbon village in Patikul.
After visiting Jolo, Esperon flew by plane to Zamboanga City later in the day and inspected troops.
Esperon was in Jolo on Monday and inspected troops on the battle front before meeting with senior commanders in the towns of Jolo, Indanan and Patikul, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group tied to the Indonesian Jemaah Islamiya terror network.
Two of JI's leaders, Umar Patek and Dulmatin, were believed to be with the group of Khadaffy Janjalani, the chieftain of the Abu Sayyaf, on the island. "We will get them sooner or later. We will pursue and neutralize them," he said without elaborating.
Esperon also inspected assorted bomb equipment and explosive devices recovered from a captured Abu Sayyaf camp in the hinterlands of Indanan town.
He told soldiers that President Gloria Arroyo was monitoring the offensive against the Abu Sayyaf and the hunt for Patek and Dulmatin in Jolo."The President is monitoring the progress of the offensive against the terrorists in Jolo," he said. "Let's not give the terrorists a chance to sow fear to the hearts of everyone, let's finish them off."
Esperon also left medical packs to soldiers and promised them more support to help defeat terrorism on Jolo. "We will provide you more support, weapons and reinforcements and communications and life support system to help in our fight against terrorism in Jolo," he said.
He also spoke with Muslim villagers in Patikul town, shaking hands with the elders and children. "The man is good and he looks so kind. He was talking to us and shaking hands with many people here," said Kasiri Panding, a fisherman in Bonbon village in Patikul.
After visiting Jolo, Esperon flew by plane to Zamboanga City later in the day and inspected troops.
2 comments:
I wish the media would not show any more pictures and videos of dead bodies. It is so disgusting.
Dear Reader,
Thank you very much for your comment. The publication of photograph of dead terrorists was the decision of the board of editors.
We have no other reasons, but to show our readers the true color of war.
Mabuhay!
Ed.Zamboanga Journal
Post a Comment