ZAMBOANGA CITY – Abu Sayyaf militants have killed six infantry soldiers, including an officer, in fierce clashes Sunday in the restive province of Basilan in the Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines, officials said.
Officials said the fighting erupted in the village of Libug in Sumisip town, a known Abu Sayyaf stronghold in the province. The soldiers were patrolling the village when they engaged about 20 militants sparking a running gunbattle that killed the soldiers belong to the 64th Infantry Battalion.
Marine Capt. Maria Rowena Muyuela, a spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command, said the slain soldiers were part of a team guarding a road project in the town. “They were part of team securing a development project there,” she said.
She said the fighting lasted some 45 minutes and described the battle as fierce. “Six soldiers, including a young 2nd lieutenant, were proclaimed dead after 45 minutes of heavy exchange of fires,” Muyuela said.
But television reports quoted Philippine military spokesman Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said two officers were killed in the fighting, although their names were not made public until their families have been informed about the deaths.
Col. Rolando Bautista, commander of the 104th Infantry Brigade, has sent reinforcement to pursue the militants headed by Radzmi Jannatul. “I will press criminal charges against these bandits who are harassing security forces protecting the workers of the 64-kilometer, Saudi (Fund for Development)-assisted road project,” he said.
Bautista was referring to the 135-kilometer Basilan Circumferential Road project launched by the Department of Public Works and Highways during the time of President Fidel Ramos in the 1990s, but works continue up to now. The military also helped construct the road project which was financed through a concessional facility extended by Saudi Arabia.
The loan of 75 million Saudi riyals was extended on October 2005 – to revive the project after being stalled for many years – while the Filipino government provided a counterpart fund of 1.118 billion pesos.
The circumferential road project is seen as a major infrastructure initiative to lift Basilan from poverty and bring prosperity in the province as part of the government’s campaign against local terrorism and lawlessness in the area, state media said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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