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Military captures Jolo stronghold, rebels on the run
 Troops captured the main stronghold of hundreds of Moro gunmen Friday and pursued them from a town where they attacked an Army detachment, triggering clashes that have killed more than 60 people, military officials said. About 300 armed followers of jailed Muslim leader Nur Misuari fled toward a mountainous region, and villagers wanted the military to finish them off to ensure they no longer threaten Panamao town, on southern Jolo island, officials said.
| Civilians getting a little tired of the hard boy act. |
At least 24 soldiers have been killed, including Lt. Col. Dennis Villanueva, head of the army's 53rd Infantry Battalion, and two of his enlisted men, who came under mortar fire Thursday while battling the gunmen in Panamao. More than 40 other soldiers were wounded in the clashes that erupted Monday. The military said troops have killed 37 Misuari loyalists. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Manila ordered no let-up in operations against the rebel group faction and Abu Sayyaf until all their "terrorist lairs" are dismantled. "Go get'em, boys...the room is all ready for my the press conference." |
On Thursday, Air Force fighter planes bombarded the gunmen near the Army company detachment, a nearby hospital and Panamao's town hall. After, large numbers of troops moved in, firing artillery and automatic rifles and prompting the attackers to withdraw, officials said. They fled to a hilltop stronghold called Bitan-ag, then retreated deeper into Jolo's mountainous heartland. Army troops and marines captured Bitan-ag and were chasing the gunmen, said army Brig. Gen. Agustin Demaala. Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza, commander of the military's Southern Command, said troops would not ease their pursuit of the gunmen, who were led by locally prominent religious leader Habier Malik, until they surrender or are dead. "He is now in imminent defeat, and our troops are finally closing in on him," Braganza told reporters on Jolo, where he was overseeing assaults against the gunmen.
Posted by: Seafarious 2005-02-12 |
