Wounded Troops Awarded Medals In Zamboanga

Southern Philippines military chief Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon pins medals Monday 21 Aug 2006 to government soldiers wounded in clashes with the communist New People's Army rebels in Zamboanga del Sur province. Habacon awarded 15 other soldiers with wounded personnel medals at a military hospital in Zamboanga City. (Zamboanga Journal)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 21 Aug) At least 15 soldiers and a government militiaman wounded in clashes with Abu Sayyaf militants and communist New People's Army rebels were given medals Monday for their bravery at a military hospital in Zamboanga City, officials said.

Major General Gabriel Habacon, commander of military forces in the Southern Philippines, awarded the medals to the soldiers who were recuperating in the hospital.

"These medals speak of your bravery and dedication to duty and I commend all of you for fighting terrorism. We will crush and defeat terrorism and bring back peace in our land," he told the soldiers at the Camp Navarro Hospital inside the Southern Command base.

He also recommended militiaman Alejandro Villasis, who was wounded fighting the NPA rebels last week in Zamboanga del Sur, to be a regular soldier in the army. "His bravery saved many innocent lives. He fought the rebels and defended his village against the NPA attack, saving a lot of lives," he said.

Habacon also ordered that the soldiers be given all their medical benefits. Most of the wounded soldiers were wounded in clashes with Abu Sayyaf militants last week in Jolo island, where security forces had been pursuing the group, blamed for the recent killings of two kidnapped hostages on the island.

"There is operation going on in Jolo island and troops are pursuing the terrorists. The government offensive will not stop until we destroy the leaders of the Abu Sayyaf and two Jemaah Islamiya bombers," he said, referring to Umar Patek and Dulmatin, who were allegedly with the group of Khadaffy Janjalani, the chieftain of the Abu Sayyaf.

Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, Jolo military commander, said troops were tracking down Patek and Dulmatin and Janjalani.

"We are still tracking down the terrorists and the hunt is centered on the mountains of Indanan and Patikul towns. Our operation is relentless and we will get them dead or alive," Aleo said.

The Philippine military tightened security in Jolo island after troops last week seized 6,000 Indian blasting caps believed owned by the Abu Sayyaf group.

Aleo said a man, Mujahiri Malik, who was allegedly transporting the explosives, was arrested, but his companion, a woman, had escaped and is being hunted by security forces. Security forces seized 3,000 blasting caps from a ferry in Jolo and another 3,000 blasting caps left on a pedicab at the busy port of Jolo, he said.

"We suspect these explosives belonged to the Abu Sayyaf. We smell terrorism here," he said.

Aleo said the blasting caps were similar to what the Abu Sayyaf had used in previous bombings in Jolo and Zamboanga City. "They are similar to what the Abu Sayyaf had used in the past; the bombings in Jolo and Zamboanga. They also have the same markings and all made in India," he said.

The ferry left Zamboanga City late Wednesday and arrived in Jolo the next day to unload and pick up passengers and cargoes and then sail for Tawi-Tawi and back to Zamboanga.

There were no reports of fresh clashes in Jolo, but Aleo said at least 11 Abu Sayyaf militants were killed in fierce clashes last month. There were no soldiers killed in the fighting, he said.

Aleo said they captured an Abu Sayyaf bomb factory in Jolo island and recovered homemade explosives and weapons. Port authorities in Zamboanga City also tightened its security to prevent the entry of weapons and explosives.

The United States offered as much as $10 million bounty for Dulmatin and $1 million for Patek's capture and another $5 million for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Khadaffy Janjalani, its chieftain. President Gloria Arroyo also put up P100 million rewards for the capture of the group's leaders and their members dead or alive. Both Patek and Dulmatin were linked to the 2002 Bali bombing.