Police, military secure health workers vs Abu Sayyaf
December 16, 2016 | 6:24pm
Police guard the Sacred Heart chapel at Camp Asturias in Jolo, Sulu. Philstar.com/File/AP
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The police and military have tightened security for physicians and health workers in anticipation of Abu Sayyaf Group attempts to snatch them and make them to treat wounded militants.
A military official confirmed that some of those wounded in a recent encounter were sub-leaders of Abu Sayyaf senior leader Radullan Sahiron.
Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said security for health workers has been increased even outside Sulu, where the military has been in clashes with the group.
Tan said aside from the 10 militants killed in a recent clash, some sub-leaders were also wounded in the fighting.
He said at least six Abu Sayyaf members who were wounded have already been identified.
Tan said intelligence on the ground continues to track down leads to confirm and identify the rest of the wounded Abu Sayyaf members.
The Sulu Provincial Police Office reported that the Abu Sayyaf Group previously tried to snatch a doctor in downtown Jolo. The attempt was foiled by two Marine security escorts who were in the clinic.
The two were wounded in the ensuing firefight.
Meanwhile, the military said there will be no letup in the operations in Sulu and Basilan despite the holiday break.
“Tuloy-tuloy at walang tigil ang operations even during Christmas,” Tan said.
He said that granting soldiers breaks and leaves will be up to the commanders on the ground to allow sustained operations.
Around 7,000 soldiers have been deployed in Sulu to neutralize and flush out the Abu Sayyaf Group, which has been blamed for a spate of kidnappings and bombings in the region.
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