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2 ASG terrorists, one soldier, killed in Sulu clash
Two Abu Sayyaf Group terrorists and an Army soldier were killed following a clash in Sulu province as the military leadership reiterated its determination to wipe out the terrorist group and their Jemaah Islamiyah cohorts.The latest clash occurred at a remote village of Buansa in Indanan town in Sulu on Monday night, according to Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment, an elite unit of the Army. The soldiers were conducting combat operations in the area at around 10:30 pm. when they caught up with at least 30 Abu Sayyaf men believed to be under Albader Parad who managed to flee during the fire fight. Officials said the troops clash briefly with the terrorists who later withdrew, leaving behind the bodies of their comrades, and are now subject of pursuit operations. Mapagu said they believe that more terrorists died in the fire fight. "Our troops believe they killed many bandits but they weren't able to recover all the dead bodies under the cover of night. Some may have already been buried by their retreating comrades," the Army official said. Meanwhile, Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. reiterated the military establishments determination to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf and their JI cohorts Dulmatin and Omar Patek in the island province of Sulu. It is to our interest that all those high value targets in Sulu will be wiped out soonest, said Esperon, referring to the Abu Sayyaf and JI leaders who has masterminded a number of attacks in the country. Over the weekend, Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo vowed to get the remaining Abu Sayyaf and JI leaders in Sulu before the May elections. Close to 10,000 soldiers are now deployed in the province to pursue the objective. Commenting on Cedos pronouncements, Esperon said: We have not in the first place set a May deadline. We are still going through it but just the same we want to hit the enemy as soon as possible, as fast as we could. (PNA) Posted by: Fred 2007-02-21 |
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