Slain Marines were 'students' on 'test mission'

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - The Marines killed in an ambush by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in Patikul, Sulu over the weekend were "students" on a test mission, a senior military official said Monday.

Lt. Gen. Rey Ardo, commander of the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), said that the seven slain Marines sent to the ASG-infested Barangay Tugas on Saturday were members of Reconnaissance Class-18.

"Kasayan 'yan sa test mission ng force recon. Military training 'yan," Ardo said, adding that the group was sent to the area with their "buddy" or support group.

He admitted that the bandit group which has supposed links to international terrorist groups, have a strong presence in Barangay Tugas.

Ardo said that the seven slain soldiers were selected from different service units of the Marines to form a special unit class for the test mission.

Earlier reports said that the Marines were tracking down the group suspected of kidnapping Criselda Marcos Villaraza when they encountered an undetermined number of ASG members.

Villaraza, wife of a non-commissioned Marine officer assigned in Sulu, was kidnapped by the bandit group last May 18 and released unharmed two days later.

Seven Marines and 10 more were injured in the clash. The military said that at least nine bandits were also killed.

Ardo, meanwhile, denied that the Marines were in a disadvantageous position during the firefight, which, he said can be belied by the number of casualties suffered by the bandits.

The military official, however, admitted that more Marines could have been killed and wounded if the firefight lasted a bit longer.

Ardo said that the military's operations against the ASG bandits will continue despite the killing of the seven Marines.

“We are still running after more [Abu Sayyaf bandits], particularly in Patikul area. Continuous tracking, continuous operation,” he said.