ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The military will not halt operations against the terrorist group of Abu Sayyaf during the observance of the Ramadan in Basilan and Sulu provinces, two of the areas with strong presence of the militants
The military said the operations against the terrorists will not affect the Muslim civilian populace who will be observing the fasting period since the operations are surgical and very selective.
The Ramadhan is expected to begin Sunday dawn at the sighting of the new moon and the atonement will last for 29 to 30 days before the new moon reappears.
“The military efforts will continue in case the situation may need it,” Capt. Ma. Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom)
She said there has been no order so far to halt the operation against the terrorists.
Government troops have been pursuing the Abu Sayyaf group whose different factions were holding about 10 kidnap victims, including six foreigners in the hinterlands of Sulu.
On the other hand, Muyuella said Muslim soldiers observing the Ramadhan will be given lighter duty.
Meanwhile, the military confirmed the death toll of the Abu Sayyaf group added 19 militants that have died following the encounter in Patikul, Sulu the other week.
The additional fatalities of the Abu Sayyaf group were coming from those who were killed and hastily buried by the group while the rest were among those critically wounded but succumbed to death.
“The number of the Abu Sayyaf have increased to 19 fatalities,” Muyuela said.
Muyuela said at least 20 members of the Abu Sayyaf have been wounded based on the ground intelligence unit as corroborated by the reports received from the civilians in the areas of Patikul town.
She said the casualties of the Abu Sayyaf was a result of the encounter last June 19 when the Abu Sayyaf group attack on the combined forces of the army’s elite unit 3rd Light Reaction Company (LRC) and marines reconnaissance platoon at Barangay Buhaginan, Patikul.
The attack of the militants also resulted to the death of at least seven soldiers, including a junior marine officer. Meanwhile, 24 others were wounded.
Muyuela said there has been no additional casualty from the government troops and those who were wounded have been recuperating from the military and private hospitals in this city.
Some of the wounded soldiers were expected to be airlifted to V. Luna hospital in Manila for further treatment and recovery.