Sulu ambush death toll hits 23; security beefed up

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Philippines – Two other persons in the ambush in Talipao last Monday have died, bringing to 23 the total number of fatalities in the bloody attack as Muslims celebrate Eid’l Fitr.

Police have yet to identify the two victims as security was beefed up in the town of Talipao to prevent possible outbreak of retaliatory attacks against the families of suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen involved in the attack.

Chief Superintendent Noel delos Reyes, police regional director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said the two fatalities were among the five wounded who were brought by Talipao Vice Mayor Tamrin Tulawi to Zamboanga City for treatment.

Tulawi personally brought and assisted the five victims, including four children, who arrived Tuesday. Two of the victims later died while undergoing treatment in a private hospital.

Delos Reyes said three other victims remain in critical condition in the Integrated Provincial Health Office in Jolo, Sulu while another has been discharged after treatment.

A special task group was created to identify to gunmen behind the attack, Delos Reyes said.

“We just don’t want to rely on the people pointing to anybody else, we want evidence that will pin down those perpetrators behind this crime,” he said.

The military and police in the area identified Iddang Susukan and Sibih Pisih of the Abu Sayyaf as the ones who allegedly led some 50 gunmen in carrying out the attack.

Delos Reyes said they are looking into the possibility that the Abu Sayyaf was retaliating against the people they suspected of aiding government forces in the security operations against the bandit group.

Delos Reyes said additional police forces were deployed in Talipao to prevent retaliatory attacks against the families of the suspected militants.

“If the motive is rido (clan war) there might be post ambush violence. We have advised the police there to ensure that this will not happen,” he said.

‘Un-Islamic’

The Sulu provincial government condemned the attack that it said was “un-Islamic and very satanic after going through the holy month of Ramadan.”

Sulu Vice Governor Abdusakur Tan said police and military personnel are now conducting pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf bandits who staged the ambush of a convoy of civilians, mostly women.

“We condemn the barbaric act of the perpetrators. The suspects are some followers/supporters of a certain barangay official in cooperation with suspected Abu Sayyaf Group members…This is un-Islamic and very satanic after going through the holy month of Ramadan. Even animals could hardly inflict damage of such magnitude,” Tan said. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe