Fierce fighting between Abu Sayyaf militants and government troops in the southern island of Jolo entered its third day yesterday and officials said the death toll has risen to 27. Dozens have also been injured, 21 of them soldiers who have been engaged in sporadic clashes with rebels in the town of Indanan, officials said. Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, the islandâs military commander, said four of those killed were soldiers and at least 19 were extremists.Col. Juancho Sabban, commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade in Jolo, said four Marines under his command were killed in addition to three soldiers from the armyâs 35th Infantry Battalion. He said the rebel death toll had risen to 10. Sabban also said a brigade-size force -- or about 2,000 soldiers -- and some 300 Abu Sayyaf bandits and gunmen loyal to jailed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari were involved in the clashes. Aleo and Sabban said renegade members of the former separatist rebel group Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) were aiding the Abu Sayyaf.
Heavy rains have prevented the military from using its air power and the clashes have been largely an artillery battle in Indanan pitting the armyâs 105-mm howitzers against the rebelsâ rocket launchers and mortars. Fresh fighting was reported in several fronts in Indanan at the weekend and renegade MNLF fighters have threatened to attack Panamao town on Joloâs eastern side if the military did not stop the assault against the Abu Sayyaf. Rebel forces also harassed civilians in the two towns, forcing them to flee their homes, Aleo said. He said an Abu Sayyaf attack on a group of patrolling soldiers late Friday in the village of Buanza in Indanan triggered the fighting that continued the next day.
Clashes also erupted on Saturday in Candilamon village, also in Indanan, he said. Aleo said troops were pursuing two of the most notorious Abu Sayyaf leaders in Jolo, Albader Parad and Radulan Sahiron, both included in Washington and Manilaâs most wanted terror lists. âWe will get them sooner or later. There is no room for terrorists in Jolo island and many of the local folks are supporting and helping us. They are providing information about the terrorists,â he said.