Bodies of mutilated Marines recovered in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Five of seven Marines killed in the fierce gunbattle between government troops and the Abu Sayyaf in the jungle of Sulu last Thursday were beheaded and mutilated, security sources confirmed yesterday. 

A military report, citing intelligence, said 26 soldiers were also wounded and at least 13 militants may have also been killed in the initial clash and follow-up fighting but troops did not recover any bodies. 

The five, including a second lieutenant who was initially reported missing but whose decapitated body was subsequently recovered, also lost several night fighting equipment and high-powered firearms to the bandits.

The fighting took place between the slopes of Mount Tunggol and Mount Gasam in Barangay Panglayahan, Patikul Thursday at dawn after Marines maneuvered in stormy weather close to the encampment of the militants in an effort to capture Abu Sayyaf leaders Radullan Sahiron, Isnilon Hapilon and allied militants belonging to the Southeast Asian militant network Jemaah Islamiyah. 

Regional military spokesman Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang declined to confirm or deny the reported mutilation of the soldiers, whose remains were already airlifted Thursday night and brought to a private funeral home here.

“As much as possible we want to show the bravery of this soldiers, how they sacrificed their lives to preserve the safety of the civilians from the terrorists,” he said.

“They were able to penetrate the camp but the militants were positioned on higher ground, that’s why we had casualties,” Cabangbang said.

Despite the large number of military casualties, the militants withdrew into the woods after five hours of fighting and government forces captured their hideout.

The fall of the major Abu Sayyaf stronghold, which is still being searched by troops, was a key victory that came with a steep price, the military said.

“Nothing is free,” military spokesman Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez said, adding with veteran jungle-based fighters, who were being pursued by reinforcement troops.

Commodore Armando Guzman, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) chief, said six of the Abu Sayyaf militants were wounded but they presumed the number was bigger as the operating troops initiated the first attack.

One of the wounded soldiers talking to visiting officials confirmed that the Abu Sayyaf suffered heavy casualties.

“We initiated the attack so a lot of them were hit in the initial volley of fire,” the soldier told his superiors. 

Guzman said additional troops from the Marines and the Army’s elite team from the Light Reaction Company (LRC) were also deployed and supported the operation that led to the capture of the camp.

“The soldiers have already cleared the stronghold of Sahiron that was overrun and the group who escaped are being relentless pursued,” according to Guzman. “The operations have been ongoing against the HVTs (high value targets).” 

A bitter sacrifice

All of the wounded soldiers have been airlifted late Thursday and were being treated at the Cam Navarro General Hospital (CNGH).

Most of them showed clear signs of injuries from bullets and rifle grenade shrapnel. 

But Col. Eugenio Mislang Jr., CNGH commander, declared all the patients in stable condition.

Philippine Navy vice chief Admiral Orwen Cortez and Philippine Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Rustico Guerrero pinned medals on the wounded soldiers and promised that the operation will continue.

“The sacrifices of your fellow soldiers were not wasted as you have cleared the area from the pit of terrorism. They have shown bravery in defending the freedom,” Guerrero said.

Philippine military offensives backed by US training and intelligence have weakened the Abu Sayyaf, which is blacklisted by Washington as a terrorist organization but remains a key security threat.

Washington has offered $1 million for the capture or killing of Sahiron and $5 million each for Hapilon and Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, a US-trained Malaysian engineer.

He has been hiding in Sulu and is one of the highest Jemaah Islamiyah leaders still at large in the region.

The group is notorious for bombings, kidnappings and beheadings over the last two decades.

It is believed to be holding a number of hostages, including two Americans, a Malaysian, an Indian and a Japanese treasure hunter in Sulu.

The government’s Anti-Terrorism Council, meanwhile, has designated the national police to take the lead in the country’s battle against terrorism, with the military backing it up.

The decision, made last month, was unrelated to the latest military setback.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, whose department oversees the 120,000-strong police force, said the military would still lead assaults against the Abu Sayyaf in tough areas like Sulu but the police would gradually play a more active operational role in battling terrorism.

Justice vowed

President Aquino vowed justice yesterday for the slain Marines.

The President condemned the atrocities, saying they were meant to put pressure on the peace process.

He  said he would personally extend his sympa- thies and condole with the bereaved relatives of these brave soldiers. – With Jaime Laude, Aurea Calica, AP