Abu Sayyaf leader Hapilon may have been hurt in clash with gov’t troops in Basilan
By Nikko Dizon
The military is verifying reports that Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon was injured in Monday’s encounter with government troops in Basilan.
The military is verifying reports that Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon was injured in Monday’s encounter with government troops in Basilan.
All eight Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) guerrillas killed in a clash with Abu Sayyaf bandits on Jolo island were beheaded.
The death toll in the fighting between Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) forces and Abu Sayyaf bandits in Patikul, Sulu, has reached 20, a police official said Monday.
Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III has cited the need to review the cases filed against suspected Abu Sayyaf members linked to various crimes.
Suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists on Wednesday bombed another bridge in Sulu, barely a month after blasting a similar structure there, but failed to destroy it or inflict any casualties, the military said.
Two suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits and a civilian were killed while seven other persons were wounded in attacks on three villages of Patikul town in Sulu on Christmas day, military reports said.
“Seek justice and neutralize all lawless elements.” This was the order of Philippine Army Commanding General Arturo Ortiz to the 104th Brigade troops who have been repositioned in Basilan from Lanao del Norte.
Malacañang on Tuesday told the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to either cooperate or stand aside when government troops go after lawless elements in or near their strongholds in southern Philippines.
Some 200 armed men stormed Talusan village in Olutangga, Zamboanga Sibugay around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, town Mayor Joel Caputolan said.
TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Philippines – Two suspected Abu Sayyaf members said to be among the gunmen who kidnapped at least 20 Filipino and American tourists from an island resort in Palawan 10 years ago were arrested in Mati City, Davao Oriental on Friday, police on Monday said. Abdul Aziz Kunting alias Robert Tan [...]
ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines—Two Marine soldiers and 13 suspected insurgents were killed while six soldiers were wounded when armed men attacked a military detachment in Talipao town in Sulu on Sunday morning. Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, said a new group known as Awliyah, believed to have links with the Abu [...]
Government troops were on a different mission, but ended up recovering kidnap victim Luisa Galvez on Monday morning.
Marine soldiers, backed by air, sea and ground support, have been combing the slopes of Mounts Tunggol and Gasam in Sulu following Thursday morning’s clash with the Abu Sayyaf that left seven Marine soldiers, including a junior officer, and 21 other soldiers injured, the provincial military commander said.
