13 rebels killed in Sulu clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -   – At least 13 rebels and two soldiers were killed when 50 fully armed rebels linked with the Abu Sayyaf attacked a Marine detachment shortly before dawn yesterday in Barangay Kabungkol in Talipao, Sulu, according to security officials.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo, chief of the Sulu Island Command, said six soldiers, including a junior officer, were also wounded when the rebel faction stormed the detachment of the 30th Marine Company under the Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 (MBLT).

“Two of our soldiers were unfortunately killed in this treacherous act and we suffered six wounded with slight injuries,” he said.

Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman for Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said an undetermined number of rebels were wounded from the fierce assault launched by the Marines.

The wounded soldiers were airlifted by the Philippine Air Force Huey helicopters in the trauma hospital at Camp Teodolfo Bautista in Barangay Busbus, Jolo.

Cabangbang said the rebels were led by a certain Hatib Jakariya, whose group was described as “Awliyah,” a radical derivative organization linked to the Abu Sayyaf and rogue Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Military sources disclosed that the group of Jakariya also called itself “Salip Jainal.”

The casualties on the government side were identified as Corp. Fermin and Private First Class Montes, while the six wounded were 2nd Lieutenant Arieta, Corporals Bausa and Ibrondo,

Private First Class Nagales, Private Dacumos, and an unidentified private.

Reports indicated that the attack happened about two kilometers from the suspected encampment of fugitive rebel leader Habier Malik.

Tanalgo said they cannot immediately pinpoint whether the group of Malik was behind the attack, but he suspected that the attackers were the same group that harassed the MBLT 10 last year while securing the road construction.

He said the Marines were securing the army engineers, most of them integrees, constructing classrooms in the area.

“This was not just an ordinary harassment, this was an attack on the soldiers who were providing security to our military engineers constructing classrooms,” he said, adding that local leaders of Talipao were furious about the incident and vowed to join the Marines in the operation.

He said the mayor of Talipao has summoned all his civilian volunteers organization (CVO) members to help the Marines in running after the rebels behind the attack.

However, Tanalgo said he was able to prevent the local leaders and advised them to just secure the community and the government’s projects. - Cecille Suerte Felipe