Pursuit operations mounted vs Abu group

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Government troops mounted pursuit operations after it overran and inflicted heavy casualties on a big group of Abu Sayyaf militants it encountered last Saturday in the mountains of Basilan, a military official said.

Brig. Gen. Nicano Dolojan, commander of Special Operations Task Force-Basilan, said additional forces have been mobilized to possible withdrawal routes of the Abu Sayyaf group led by Radzmil Janatul and Juhaiber Alamsirul, which government troops engaged in three hours of intense fighting Saturday in Barangay Upper Baiwas, Sumisip town.

The two commanders belong to the group of Abu Sayyaf leader Puruji Indama.

“Initially, the Scout Rangers neutralized at least five enemies, including their sub-leader Juhaiber Alamsirul. Pursuit operations have been ongoing since yesterday,” Dolojan said.

He said the Abu Sayyaf group the soldiers encountered numbered about 50.

Dolojan said troops have been alerted on possible reinforcements from other Abu Sayyaf groups.

Two soldiers were also killed and five others were wounded in the pre-dawn fighting in Sumisip town.

“It’s unfortunate that two were killed in action. The five wounded are now in stable condition as most of them only sustained minor wounds,” Dolojan said.

Hours after the firefight, government troops overran an Abu Sayyaf camp with permanent and temporary structures that could accommodate 50 people and recovered bandoliers, a set of police uniforms, three cell phones, SIM cards, a handheld radio, two magazines for M-14 rifle with 40 live ammunition, seven camouflage jungle hammocks, two civilian bags, and several personal belongings.

Dolojan said kidnap victim Hilario de los Santos, a resort and restaurant owner, was not monitored with the Abu Sayyaf group involved in the Sumisip clash.

He said De los Santos, who was abducted by Indama’s group last Dec. 16, is being held captive in another area in Basilan. A P20-million ransom is being sought for his release.