Killed Abu Sayyaf members buried

CEBU, Philippines – Authorities gave a decent burial to the suspected Abu Sayyaf members who were killed in the gunfight with government troops in Clarin, Bohol last Saturday.

“Despite the reported hostile plan of these lawless men, they will still be afforded with a decent burial by the people they planned to harm before,” reads the joint statement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Police Regional Office-7.

The remains of Joselito Melloria a.k.a “Abu Alih” and three other men who remain unidentified were buried together at the municipal cemetery of Clarin in Barangay Cumang yesterday afternoon.

Melloria was killed in the first encounter early afternoon Saturday. The three other men were killed in a second encounter, which was a result of a hot pursuit operation, at around 8 p.m.

Only Melloria’s body was placed in a casket while the bodies of the three other men were placed in cadaver bags.

“Wala pa nato na-identify kung kinsa sila, basta atoa na-confirm si Melloria ang usa. Positive man, gi-identify sa taga Barangay Napo (Inabanga town) na siya gyod. Hasta mama og igsoon niya, positively identified man,” said Senior Insp. Francisco Peroramas, chief of the Clarin Police.

He added that Melloria’s family would have wanted to bring his remains to Inabanga town but the mayor of Clarin advised that he be buried in Clarin together with the three unidentified men immediately.  Melloria was reportedly the Abu Sayyaf’s point person in Bohol.

“Nanimaho naman sila mao gilubong na dayon,” Peroramas added.

The local government unit shouldered the burial expenses.

Columbus Estoce, the barangay captain of Napo, Inabanga where Melloria lived told The Freeman earlier that he never expected the latter to join the Abu Sayyaf.

He reportedly knew Melloria as being a hard worker.

Melloria’s family also described him as industrious.

It was in 2007 when Melloria got married to a Muslim woman in Zamboanga whose father is said to be a leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Melloria reportedly met the woman during a boat ride. Since then, he did not return to Bohol until the bloody encounter on April 11.

Vigilant Still

Even with the death of majority of the Abu Sayyaf members in the group spotted in Bohol, the army and police are not taking any chances.

“It could be a matter of time before we can say that the threat is totally eliminated. The remaining lawless armed elements who are strangers in the area have nowhere to go. Nevertheless, our combined troops will remain cautious in their mission to neutralize what remains of the armed group from Sulu,” reads the AFP and PNP statement further.

Around 1,000 people from the town's six barangays that are living close to the conflict zone were evacuated.

Aside from Barangay Bacani, other conflict-affected barangays were Nahawan, Kantuyok, Villaflor, Ilhan and Uob.

They were temporarily housed in the town’s Cultural Center. Food for the evacuees was provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“I still encourage people to remain vigilant. Hindi tayo titigil (sa laban against the rebel group). Hindi sa tinatakot ko sila, siyempre may nangyari didto. Hindi natin alam (ang susunod mangyayari). I would still advise them not to let their guard down,” said Senior Supt. Felipe Natividad, director of Bohol Provincial Police Office.

The two clashes in Clarin occurred 11 days after the encounter in Barangay Napo, Inabanga on April 11.

The clash in Inabanga town led to the deaths of five members of the rebel group, including their leader Maumar Askali or “Abu Rami,” and four government troops. —/JMO (FREEMAN)