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| Southeast Asia |
| Filippino military clashes with Abu Sayyaf |
| 2004-09-01 |
| ARMY troops clashed with suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Baiwas, Sumisip, Basilan Monday morning in a bid to wipe out the Al-Qaeda-linked radical terrorists in the island. Southern Command spokesman Major Bartolome Bacarro said soldiers from the 55th Infantry Battalion chanced upon the group as they were patrolling the bandit's lair in the village, at about 9:30 a.m. However, there were no immediate reports of casualties from both sides, according to Bacarro. The troops took some of the bandits' weapons they left behind, consisting of one M-16 assault rifle, one M203 Garand rifle, and several rounds of ammunitions, including six from 40 mm mortars. The troops on Basilan were earlier directed by Southcom chief Major General Generoso Senga to intensify their campaign against the remaining Abu Sayyaf group. Comdr. Mingkong, who is the military's main target, along with Abu Sayyaf prison escapee Abu Black, leads the remaining Abu Sayyaf group. Mingkong is reportedly leading some 20 armed followers and still roaming the mountains of Basilan after their overall leader Kadaffy Janjalani reportedly fled the area to Central Mindanao two years ago. Also in the list of the army anti-terror drive in the said province is Comdr. Suhu Salajain, who was implicated in the Basilan kidnappings in the past years. The army in the island neutralized Mingkong's late father, who was also known as an Abu Sayyaf fighter, some months ago, according to 103rd Army Brigade Commander Col. Raymundo Ferrer. The down-sized Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan is reportedly engaged in extortion activities, mostly victimizing passenger jeepneys in their desperate bid to survive in the jungles as they no longer enjoy support for funds from friendly foreign radical forces, and due to the currently intensified drive against terrorism the region. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |