| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Philippine clashes in Basilan leave 19 dead |
| 2012-07-29 |
| The fighting in Basilan has already left 19 casualties, including 10 soldiers and nine Abu Sayyaf A spokesman for the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said 16 other soldiers and eight The fighting erupted in Barangay Cabengbeng at around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, and continued in Barangay Mebak, also in Sumisip town, nearly eight hours later. In the first clash, Cabangbang said government troops clashed with at least 50 followers of Wyms Wakil, alias Bacoy, which left eight soldiers dead and six others injured. Among the slain Wakil’s group is responsible for the slew of attacks on rubber plantation workers and soldiers since January, already killing 16 people and injuring 34 others. Despite the death of 10 soldiers, the military does not view the Basilan incident as a setback. AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said, “Incurring casualties is part and parcel of the discharge of our duties and responsibilities to protect the people. (We will do it) even at the cost of our precious lives." Meanwhile, some members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were detected trying to reinforce the armed group involved in the Basilan clashes, according to a security official who asked to remain anonymous. The official said rebels under fugitive MILF commander Dan Asnawi were seen coming from the towns of Al-Barka and Ungkaya Pukan. |
| Posted by:ryuge |