1 soldier killed, 11 wounded

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Abu Sayyaf guerrillas killed a soldier and wounded 11 others in a firefight near Patikul town on Jolo island, the military said yesterday.

The bandits, believed to be under the command of Radulan Sahiron, alias Commander Putol, reportedly attacked elements of the 29th Marine Company escorting local students on an educational tour in Sitio Wani Barangay Pansul, Patikul town at around 9:15 a.m.

None of the students were hurt in the ambush.

The troopers reportedly first ensured the safety of the students and Muslim religious leaders who assisted in their project before attacking the bandits.

Capt. Rommel Abrau, Philippine Marine public information chief, said that the firefight left one wounded.

Meanwhile, a military truck with reinforcement troops from the 39th Marine Company on board, was ambushed and fell into a ravine. A soldier was killed while 10 others were wounded. But the troops managed to engage the rebels in a firefight.

"The primary motive of the ambush is that the ASG felt threatened that the populace might turn against them with the ongoing project of the government," Abrau said in a statement.

As this developed, the Philippine Army dispatched its intelligence chief to take over as the new Basilan military commander in charge of hunting down elusive remnants of the Abu Sayyaf still hiding in the province.

Col. Reymundo Ferrer, former Philippine Army Intelligence chief G-2, formally took over as the chief of the 103rd Army Brigade in a ceremony held at the Army headquarters in Barangay Tabiawan, Isabela City, Basilan.

He replaced Brig. Gen. Bonifacio Ramos who was promoted to a higher position as the deputy commander of the 8th Infantry Division based in Samar.

Basilan government officials and residents credited Ramos for his relentless campaign against the Abu Sayyaf. Ferrer for his part vowed to utilize the Army’s intelligence capability to flush out the remaining bandits.— With Reuters, Christina Mendez