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Friday, March 29, 2024

Sayyaf, Marines clash: 7 die

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FIVE Abu Sayyaf men and two members of the Philippine Marines were killed in fresh firefight that erupted Thursday in Kalingalan Caluang, Sulu, security authorities said.

Joint Task Force Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said another soldier was wounded in the morning firefight in Barangay Pang.

The names of the soldier-casualties were withheld pending notification of kin.

Sobejana said the soldiers were in combat operation to rescue some kidnap victims when more than 30 terrorists encountered them.

The soldiers recovered seven high-powered firearms left by the terrorists in their escape.

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“JTF Sulu forces [are] determined to continue their relentless and sustained effort in pursuing the Abu Sayyaf and other lawless elements for the safe rescue of the kidnap victims,” Sobejana said in a statement.

The latest abduction perpetrated by the ASG was only last month against four laborers , all from Zamboanga City, working at a sports complex in Patikul.

Meanwhile, Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. appealed to local officials in Lanao del Sur to closely monitor and guard their own bodies of waters and land against infiltration of terrorists especially those who want themselves extricated from the battle area in Marawi City as part of their security plan for long-term solutions to Islamic extremism in Mindanao.

“It would be best if you look after your lakes and your respective areas,” Galvez told officials during a meeting Wednesday at the provincial capitol.

Galvez made the appeal as Manila Standard reported that IS-anointed leader for South East Asia Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon and 28 followers had been dragging with them bags purportedly containing more than a billion of pesos in cash, piecesa of jewelry and gold and were tunneling towards the Lanao lake and Agus river to escape.

The tunneling was being done under a mosque where the terrorists sought refuge from military assaults and air and ground bombardments. 

More than 500 terrorists, 122 soldiers, and 45 civilians have been killed in the more than two months of fighting. 

The military said up to 70 terrorists holding more or less 100 civilian hostages were still inside the battle area. Many more civilians were trapped inside.  

Defense and military top brass said they were now preparing restoration and rehabilitation programs for Marawi.

“We are nearing the end of this prolonged battle with the penetration of our troops into the main battle area, but we beseech your consideration and assistance. We believe that the top leaders are still in the battle area, but we do not discount the possibility of reinforcement and retreat. This is where the key involvement of local government units comes in,” Galvez appealed to the officials.

He said the terrorists were running out of ammunition and food and he also urged local officials to assist government forces in preventing enemy reinforcements.

Galvez said long-term solutions and security arrangements with Lanao del Sur officials from the 29 towns had started to shape up to pre-empt the “spillover of the conflict” and the infiltration and recruitment of terrorists in other areas.

He said an official from Lumba-Bayabao municipality said checkpoints were established by members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team and passage of motorboats along Lake Lanao was also monitored within their coastal barangays.

“We are preparing our constituents so that we will be able to make ourselves ready. We want our BPATs to be trained so that we can take appropriate actions when needed,” Galvez said, quoting the official as saing.

“He also recommended that a system be implemented to validate the identities of local terrorists,” he added.

He quoted Balindong Mayor Benjamin Bagul as saying he had been monitoring movements to prevent the entry of possible reinforcements in his area but stressed that fishing industry within their lakeshore barangays had been limited due to security restrictions.

“We have registered and authorized 126 pump boats; however, we are also affected by the tightening of security as fishing can no longer be done from 3 to 5 a.m., but only at 6 a.m. and beyond,” the general quoted Bagul as saying.

Galvez said he would bring the issue for resolution, believing it would be best to have fishermen in the lake area from time to time so they too could also serve as watchers who would report suspicious boats to authorities.

He said Masiu Mayor Nasser Pangandaman also shared his practice of repainting the fishermen’s boats and assigning control numbers to each. According to Pangandaman, those who violated regulations were seized by the local government.

“One official also said that there are some folks from other municipalities in Maguidanao who come to their town in Kapatagan to recruit would-be members of the terror group,” Galvez said.

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