5 Abu bandits die in fresh clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Five members of the bandit group Abu Sayyaf were killed while many other rebels and 11 soldiers were wounded as government troops stepped up their offensive last Friday, military officials said yesterday.

Military officials believe that there was still an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf members who were killed in the battle, but their bodies were retrieved by the fleeing members of the bandit group.

Military Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya said the fighting resumed when government troops encountered more than 50 members of Abu Sayyaf.

The bandits were backed up by renegades of the Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG) in barangay Luba, Maimbung town past 4 p.m. the other day. The battle spilled over to a nearby village.

The MBG is a faction of Muslim rebels loyal to jailed Muslim leader Nur Misuari, who was caught in November 2001 in Sabah, Malaysia after he led an attack on the headquarters of the 104th Army brigade based in Jolo.

"Running gunbattle ensued until 7 p.m. After the firefight, the bandits used the forest for their defenses against our pursuing soldiers. We got one Abu Sayyaf and undetermined wounded," Abaya said.

He noted that the bandits the government troops encountered are part of a group led by Galib Andang alias Commander Robot; Mujib Susukan; and Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu Pula, who are based in the area.