 Lt. Gen. Generoso Senga has ordered the [Philippines] military to step up assault on Abu Sayyaf strongholds on Jolo Island as fighting entered its seventh day on Friday. The offensive targets the members of the Abu Sayyaf on the island and the Moro National Liberation Front rebels, who are supporting the terrorists. âWe will pursue relentlessly the Abu Sayyaf and the groups that are supporting them,â he said. | Good. Now back to work, enough with the press conferences, General. |
Jolo military chief, Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, briefed Senga of the progress of the antiterror campaign. Four soldiers and dozens of Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed, and at least 22 soldiers were also wounded in fierce fighting since last week, he said. A group of US troops were also spotted at a military base in Jolo, but Filipino officials said the Americans were part of a humanitarian mission. | Command, control, communications and GPS coordinates are all very humanitarian, in my book. |
American military officials previously said that US troops were deployed in the South to assist, give advice and train Filipino forces against terrorists. |