11 Nur followers killed in Sulu clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Eleven followers of jailed former governor Nur Misuari and two Marine troopers were killed in three hours of fierce fighting in Luuk town in Sulu Saturday, reports reaching the military here said yesterday.

Four Marines and 17 rebels were also wounded in the battle which started at around 9: 25 a.m. — after the rebels ambushed a Marine patrol in coastal Barangay Tubig Puti — and lasted until past noon.

The slain Marines were identified as Privates First Class Gil Galvanes and Lemuel Tipana and the wounded as T/Sgt. Alex Pascual, Sgt. Efenito Bernardino Jr., Cpl. Angelito Bermudez, and Pfc. Joe Bohengon.

Army Capt. Noel Detoyato, acting spokesman for the Armed Forces Southern Command, said the wounded soldiers had been airlifted to Camp Navarro General Hospital inside Southcom headquarters here.

Troops were not able to recover the bodies of the slain rebels as their comrades had dragged them when they retreated to the interior of the town, he said.

Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, Southcom chief, said the ambush was apparently in retaliation for an offensive by soldiers against a rebel encampment earlier in the day.

"We have sent additional troops to pursue the Misuari breakaway group," he said. "We are going to find them, there is no escape."

The assault was ordered after the same group of gunmen attacked the soldiers last week, he added.

Detoyato said the Misuari followers led by Commander Nasirul Ajihun were equipped with high-powered firearms, including three caliber .60 light machineguns, one 90RR recoiless rifles and two 81-mm. mortars.

"Heavy fighting raged until high noon as both forces exacted firepower," he said.

Detoyato said 40 rebels ambushed the Marine patrol but that at the height of the fighting the number of Misuari’s followers rose to 150 as they tried to encircle the Marines.

However, Detoyato said the beleaguered Marines fought ferociously, firing automatic weapons and shelling the rebels with mortars, until they were able to repulse them.

Detoyato said government troops have thrown a massive security cordon around Luuk in preparation for any plan of Misuari partisans to heighten their harassment of soldiers and attack the town.

Last Wednesday morning, one of Ajibun’s men was killed and two others wounded when they attacked a Marine detachment in a nearby barangay, he added.

Misuari declared the rebellion last month after President Arroyo backed his rival, Parouk Hussin, as candidate for governor of the Autonomous Regions in Muslim Mindanao

Hussin has already been proclaimed and now sits as ARMM governor.