ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 28, 2010) – Motorcycle gunmen strafed a crowded bus depot on Tuesday and killing at least 2 people in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga Sibugay, reports said.
The attackers, who were on three motorbikes, escaped after the noontime shooting that also wounded four people in Tungawan town. The motive of the attack is still unknown, but the reports said the gunmen fled toward the neighboring Zamboanga City.
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the attack, but rebels are also actively operating in the town.
The military did not give details of the attack, but confirmed the incident had occurred.
“There is a report about the incident, but we still have no details (of the attack),” said Army First Lieutenant Jinky Perez, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command headquarters in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
2 killed, 4 wounded in Zamboanga strafing
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Troops clash with Sayyafs in Basilan province
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 19, 2010) – An Abu Sayyaf militant was killed in a clash Sunday with Philippine soldiers in the southern province of Basilan, officials said.
Officials said the fighting erupted at dawn on a village in Lantawan town, a known stronghold of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group blamed for the string of attacks and kidnappings in Mindanao.
Troops also recovered an automatic rifle and munitions from the slain militant – Abdulkarim Sali - whose body was brought to Zamboanga City. But the family and relatives of the slain militant denied he was a member of the Abu Sayyaf.
“Abdulkarim Sali is a wanted Abu Sayyaf member and involved in the kidnapping (of three US citizens and over a dozen Filipinos) in Sipadan,” said First Lieutenant Jinky Perez, a regional army spokeswoman.
Perez was referring to a posh resort in Palawan province the Abu Sayyaf raided in 2001. She said Sali was also involved in several kidnappings in Basilan and included in the government’s wanted list. (Mindanao Examiner)