Troops Kill 30 Sayyaf In Fighting In Jolo Island

In Jolo island, troops continue to pursue the leaders of the local Abu Sayyaf terrorist group and two Jemaah Islamiya bombers Dulmatin and Umar Patek. At least 30 Abu Sayyaf were killed in fierce fighting in Patikul's mountain, says one army soldier who survived the clashes.(Mindanao Examiner)

JOLO ISLAND (Juan Magtanggol / 05 Sept) At least 30 Abu Sayyaf militants were killed by soldiers in fierce fighting in the southern Philippine island of Jolo, where security forces are tracking down two Jemaah Islamiya terrorists blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings.

Army Maj. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, a regional military commander, said troops were pursuing an estimated 100 Abu Sayyaf militants who broke into smaller groups in the hinterlands of Patikul town, where 6 soldiers were killed and 19 more wounded on Monday. "There is pursuit operation and we will not relent until the terrorists are neutralized," Cedo told the Mindanao Examiner.

The bodies of six soldiers were brought to Zamboanga City on Tuesday, where grieving relatives were waiting. One of three soldiers who survived the fighting on Monday said as many as 30 Abu Sayyaf were killed in the clashes in the mountain village of Tugas.

"We counted as many as 30 dead Abu Sayyaf. Every grenade we used had blasted five or more terrorists. One Abu Sayyaf said in an intercepted radio message told the others that he had ten dead with him," Cpl. Leo Angeles said, describing the fighting as fierce. "I remember telling the soldiers to fire at will and kill as many Abu Sayyaf they could. Hell was right there."

The wounded soldiers were at a military hospital in Zamboanga City, he said. "They are all okay and are now being treated at the hospital. They were hit with M14s and shrapnel from grenades fired by the terrorists," he told the Mindanao Examiner.

Cedo said troops were pursuing Jemaah Islamiya bombers Dulmatin and Umar Patek, who were with the group of Abu Sayyaf cheiftain Khadafy Janjalani and Radulan Sahiron.

"All forces are now on the ground and with one mission and that is to destroy the terrorists. There will be no "let-up" in the campaign against the terrorists. We will not rest until we neutralize the terrorists and bring back peace in the province," Cedo said.

Last month, soldiers also clashed with the Abu Sayyaf under Khadaffy Janjalani in Patikul town and recovered Dulmatin's tools in manufacturing bombs, including remote-controlled detonators and other electronic gadgets.

The Philippine military said the Abu Sayyaf was protecting Dulmatin and Patek in Jolo island, about 950 km south of Manila. A small group of US soldiers involved in training Filipino troops were helping the local military in the hunt for Janjalani and Dulmatin and Patek.

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.