Over 100 Abus to face murder raps for Basilan attack

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa has ordered the filing of charges of murder and direct assault against more than 100 Abu Sayyaf fighters that took part in the killing of 23 soldiers in Basilan last week.

Speaking to reporters in Quezon City, Verzosa said similar charges might also be filed against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members suspected of colluding with the Abu Sayyaf.

“That (allegation of collusion) would have to be supported by solid evidence,” he said.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina said those charged are under the command of Furuji Indama.

“We are in the process of getting all the statements from our witnesses,” he said. “We aim to file the charges on or before Friday.”

Verzosa said police investigators are interviewing residents in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan to get more evidence against the suspects.

“Our evidence are from the statements of our troops who survived the attack, testimonial evidence from civilian witnesses and the firearms recovered from the site of the encounter,” he said.

Espina said police are relying partly on testimonial evidence from town residents unsupportive of the Abu Sayyaf.

Once the charges are filed, police can arrest the suspects who return to their barangays as ordinary citizens following encounters with the military, he added.

No leak – military commander

A military commander belied yesterday reports of a leak that led to the death of 23 Marines in an ambush in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan last week.

Rear Adm. Alexander Pama, Task Force Trillium commander that oversaw the military operation in Basilan, said the Abu Sayyaf were taken by surprise when troops raided their hideout in Sitio Kurellem as early as 4 a.m.

“Meaning there was already a qualified success since we achieved the objective of neutralizing them (Abu Sayyaf),” he said.

Pama said at around 6 a.m. Wednesday, the operation was practically over because the Marines had overrun the hideout, with at least two to three wounded.

During the second assault, some Army Scout Rangers were wounded, he added.

However, Pama said the Marines who were supposed to rescue the wounded were ambushed by an MILF band under Asid Sali, which came all the way from Albarka town.

“When this 67th MRC proceeded to reinforce and rescue they were ambushed by this big group who were not supposed to be involved, because by that time, the MILF faction leaving the area have been informed and opted not to join the hostility,” he said.

Pama said the MILF band under Hamsa Sapanton, who are based in Baguindan near Kurellem, did not join the fighting since the military had coordinated with them.

“In fairness to the MILF, their unit in Tipo-Tipo near the Baguindan area (led by Hamsa Sapanton) did not join,” he said.

Pama said it was surprising that the MILF band of Asid Sali who came all the way from Al-barka town had reinforced the Abu Sayyaf.

“As the commander supervising the operation of the 1st Marine Brigade, I can say that it was an unqualified success because we have already gotten the primary objective with very minimal casualties. Before the incident on Hill 440, we hardly had any casualty except for the explosion of the EID and one hit in Kurellem. The ambush was treachery that happened in that area by people who were not supposed to be there,” he said.

Peaceniks urge adherence to ceasefire

In Cotabato City, peaceniks and local officials have urged the military and MILF to adhere to the bilateral ceasefire to enable more than 6,000 evacuees to return to their barangays in Basilan.

Physician Tahir Sulaik, regional health secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said the situation in the barangays where the fighting occurred remained “too volatile” and that evacuees are afraid to return home.

“The evacuees are now housed in public school campuses,” he said.

“There are many others who have sought refuge in the homes of their relatives in nearby barangays.”

Members of the Oblate of Mary Immaculate (OMI), which is involved in peace-building activities in central Mindanao and the island provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, urged the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command and the MILF to allow the joint ceasefire committee to iron out peaceful solutions to the tension in Basilan’s neighboring towns of Albarka, Ungkaya Pukan and Tipo-Tipo, scene of last week’s fierce clashes between soldiers and Muslim guerrillas.

“The globally accepted mode now of settling conflicts is through dialogue, which is far from being bloody and destructive in terms of lives and properties,” said OMI missionary Eliseo Mercado Jr.

Oscar Sampulna, ARMM executive secretary, said the regional peace and order council has tasked the provincial government of Basilan, a component province, and the regional police director, Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani, to help the local governments in the three war-torn towns in resolving peacefully their security problems.

“We thank all the LGUs in Basilan and all non-government organizations helping address the needs of the evacuees from those three towns,” he said.

Jabarani has tapped leaders of the Muslim religious community in Basilan to help restore normalcy in the island province, according to Senior Superintendent Danilo Bacas, ARMM police spokesman. – With Roel Pareño, John Unson