ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine military on Tuesday said 15 soldiers were killed in fierce clashes with Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao.
It said at least 12 more army soldiers were wounded in Monday fighting in Patikul town, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf which pledged allegiance with the Islamic State. Military forces continue its assault, firing artillery on suspected lairs of the militant group blamed for the spate of ransom of kidnappings across the Malaysian border.
Philippine military chief Ricardo Visaya said the “fifteen soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice while twelve others were wounded following series of intense skirmishes in Sulu. As we gaze at the national flag that flies at half-mast anew, soldiers knew that one too many heroes among them has again offered his life – that others may live. Much as every soldier, sailor, marine or airman knows that laying down one’s life is all part and parcel of their job, we in the AFP vow to pursue this battle to conclusion.”
Among the military casualties was an army officer, Lt. Ernan Gusto, and most of those killed were members of the 32nd Infantry Battalion, ambushed by militants in Patikul. The soldiers – sent to the province to fight the Abu Sayyaf still holding nearly 2 dozen Malaysian and Indonesian hostages – were not familiar with the town’s terrain and virtually walked into their brutal demise where over a hundred Abu Sayyaf gunmen were battling security forces since last week in Patikul and Talipao towns.
One of the slain soldiers, Pfc. Jison Falcasantos, was beheaded by militants and even sent cell phone message to his family in Zamboanga City to say that they chopped off the head of the infantryman. Using Falcasantos’ cell phone, one militant said: “Patay na ang son mo. Wala ang ulo niya, pinutulan na naman kahapon.”
Falcasantos’ family replied: “Wala kang kunsensya.” But the unidentified militant went on to say: “Talaga, wala kaming kunsensya dahil nagpunta sila dito sa lugar namin, pati ikaw puputulan din kita.”
The Western Mindanao Command said over 2 dozen militants had been killed in the clashes, but troops only recovered at least 10 cadavers and one of them was the body of Mohammad Said alias Amah Maas, an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader blamed for the beheading of Canadian hostages John Ridsdel and Robert Hall just this year after their families failed to raise P600 million ransoms for their freedom.
There was no military report on the fate of the hostages, including Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, who was kidnapped last year in Samal Island in Davao del Norte province along with Ridsdel and Hall.
President Duterte ordered security forces to destroy the Abu Sayyaf following the recent beheading of a Filipino hostage Patrick James Almodovar after his family failed to pay P1 million ransom.
Duterte said negotiators had paid P50 million ransoms to the Abu Sayyaf for the safe release of Sekkingstad, but the militants demanded P250 million more. He did not say where the ransom came from.
The Western Mindanao Command said among those killed in the fighting was Mohammad Said, alias Amah Maas who was an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader tagged by the military as involved in the beheading of 2 Canadian hostages – John Ridsdel and Robert Hall – just this year.
Sulu Governor Totoh Tan has ordered social workers to look into the welfare of civilians who fled their villages and to ensure their safety. (With a report from Ely Dumaboc.)
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