Government verifying report on Sahiron

MANILA, Philippines - The government has been verifying reports that Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron was among those injured in military offensives in Sulu last week, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said yesterday.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has a $5-million bounty for information leading to the capture of Sahiron and another Abu Sayyaf leader, Isnilon Hapilon, for their crimes against Americans.

About 25 Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed and 27 others wounded after days of fighting with government troops in Barangay Buhanginan, Sulu as the Armed Forces of the Philippines declared an all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf.

Coloma said the government is doing its best to prevent a spillover of the continued clashes and to lessen the collateral damage that may be wrought on both Muslims and Christians in Mindanao.

The military said two soldiers from Joint Task Group Sulu were killed and 26 others wounded in the gun battle.

Capt. Maria Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command, said troops from the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion under Lt. Col. Eugenio Boquio attacked the fleeing group of Sahiron in Sitio Baunoh Butong, Barangay Buhanginan in Patikul.

Muyuela said ground troops have launched mortar attacks while air support was provided by the Air Force.

The 40-millimeter mortar rounds fired by the Abu Sayyaf hit the wounded soldiers. The victims were airlifted to a military hospital in Barangay Busbus in Jolo.

Muyuela said pursuing troops reported that Abu Sayyaf bandits retreated toward Barangay Taglibi.

The military is verifying reports that more bandits led by Furuji Indama arrived in Sulu yesterday to reinforce the group of Sahiron.

AFP Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said the bandits are now running low in ammunition.

“Reports from our sources in the villages in Patikul indicate that Abu Sayyaf is on the run... The elite Scout Rangers are relentlessly tracking them down,” Cabunoc said.