Marines battle Abu Sayyaf in Basilan
Vice gov says reports cite 3 Abu dead
By Julie Alipala
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 14:30:00 12/01/2008
Filed Under: The Southern Campaign, Armed conflict
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Marines have been battling fighters of the Abu Sayyaf group in Tipo-tipo Central, Basilan since Sunday, the military said Monday.
Colonel Rustico Guerrero, commander of the 1st Marine Brigade, said the firefight in Barangay (village) Baguindan was continuing Monday afternoon.
Basilan Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul said he received reports that three Abu Sayyaf members had been killed since Sunday although Guerrero said only one has been confirmed slain since the clashes broke out.
Guerrero said the Marines were conducting punitive actions against the kidnappers of humanitarian workers Merlie Mendoza and Esperancita Hupida when they encountered about 100 Abu Sayyaf fighters under Puruji Indama and Nurhassan Jamiri.
The punitive actions were launched even as the Abu Sayyaf still holds two more hostages -- a 17-year-old nursing student from this city and a 9-year-old girl from Lamitan, Basilan.
"We are not going to stop until we were able to neutralize and displace the group from their established lairs," Guerrero said.
Asked about the safety of the hostages, he said another government unit is dealing with the kidnappers so they can be freed already.
"There's an assurance that we are not risking the lives of the two kidnap victims as we are performing this offensive action against the kidnappers here in Tipo-tipo," Guerrero said.
Sakalahul said close to 1,000 families have evacuated from the villages of Bohe Suyak and Sungkayot in Unkaya Pukan town; Baguindan and Silangkom in Tipo-tipo Central; and parts of Albarkah town due to the military action against the kidnappers of Mendoza and Hupida.
"I've been trying to reach out to the municipal mayors of affected towns so we could address the problem on the displacements," he said.
Sakalahul said he had also coordinated with the Marines so a safety zone can be established where residents can relocate while the operations in their villages are ongoing.
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