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Philippine Army Kills Suspected Extremists at Sea
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP) - Army forces in a speedboat killed four suspected members of an extremist Muslim group in a clash at sea after getting a tip from fishermen, the military said Sunday. The army special forces recovered the motor boat and a rifle of the four suspected members of Abu Sayyaf, who fell into the sea after being hit in the five-minute clash late Friday off southern Zamboanga city, army spokesman Lt. Col. Joselito Kakilala said."You gummint ninnies couldnât hit the broad side of a ... ouch! [splash]" Other military officials said the army forces aboard a speedboat approached the rebelsâ boat after being tipped off by fishermen that the gunmen were preparing to attack a trawler. "Dem guys are lookinâ to shoot up somethinâ. Old Zeke saw it for hisself, ainât that right Zeke?" "Yup, I saws it. Dey look kinda crazy and kinda dumb." "Okay, that sounds like Abu Sayyaf allright. Thanks boys, weâll take it from here." Attacks by the Abu Sayyaf, a small but violent band notorious for beheadings and kidnappings, have waned considerably since a U.S.-backed military offensive drove them last year from their main jungle bases on Basilan island near Zamboanga. "We need reinforcements!" "There ainât no reinforcements!" "What? Damn! Somebody tell the madrassas to hurry up!" A few hundred remain on nearby Jolo island, Basilan and Zamboanga city, where American troops conduct combat and counterterrorism training for Filipino counterparts aimed at wiping out the resilient guerrillas. A two-fer! Live fire training AND anti-terrorist ops! Zamboanga, a bustling port city and headquarters of the militaryâs Southern Command, is about 530 miles south of Manila. Posted by: Steve White 2003-08-18 |
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