Death toll in Sulu attack rises to 21; medals awarded to wounded Marines

ZAMBOANGA CITY ,Philippines  – Military officials yesterday said the number of casualties of the rebel group that attacked the Marine detachment in Talipao, Sulu, over the weekend had increased to 21. Rear Admiral Armand Guzman, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), said civilians provided the information on the additional eight casualties on the rebel side.

He said Brig. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo reported that the rebel group linked with the Abu Sayyaf suffered more casualties than what government troops recovered near the military detachment. The bodies of 13 of the attackers were recovered at the detachment of the 30th Marine Company in Barangay Kabungkol in Talipao two hours after the attack early Sunday.

Guzman had awarded medals to the wounded Marines that were brought to Camp Navarro General Hospital at the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command base.

Top military officers led the funeral honors accorded to two slain Marines at the NFWM base.

One of the wounded Marines told newsmen that there could have been more casualties on the rebel side.

Corporal Reysson Borlasa, who was one of the guards on post at the Marines detachment, said two of the gunmen he killed were dragged away by the insurgents.

“I spotted the gunmen with my night vision goggles already moving too close towards my fellow guard on post so I fired and neutralized the rebel and another one who was still outside the perimeter defense,” Borlasa said.

He said the rebels were firing from various directions. The rebels were also using M203 grenade launchers and homemade dynamites.

Borlasa said several rebels who were armed only with jungle bolos later penetrated the detachment perimeter while smoke from the exploding dynamite covered the camp.

“They were too noisy chanting ‘Allahu akbar’ so they were easily noticed and recognized as we shot them inside the camp during the close quarter combat,” Borlasa said.

Private First Class Eutiquio Nagales suffered a hack wound on his right shoulder before he shot his attacker.

Corporal Juan Ibarondo said they defended the detachment from the barrage of gunfire and explosions until dawn, prompting the rebels to withdraw, dragging away many of their casualties.

Borlasa, who was wounded on his right leg, said he inspected the area at the perimeter of the detachment but there were no bodies of rebels. He said many of the bodies were dragged away by their withdrawing comrades.

Borlasa said the rebels who penetrated the camp wore red shirts while the other attackers wore yellow shirts.