Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III
PAGADIAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 8, 2012) – The Philippine Army has tagged the Abu Sayyaf as behind the latest attack on civilians in the southern province of Basilan.
Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, ordered troops to hunt down Abu Sayyaf rebels responsible in the recent ambush of farm workers in Sumisip town.
One person was killed and many others were wounded in the attack.
Cruz has identified at least 6 of the assailants as Wims Wakil, Umair Wakil, Abul Wakil, Madie Sahirin, Kursie Sahirin and Cabot Atatul.
“The cooperation of the civilian populace with the military and police should continue so that we may prevent future terror attacks in the province,” Cruz told the Mindanao Examiner.
Cruz has been on top of the operation against the Abu Sayyaf and is largely credited for maintaining pace and order, along with the police authorities, in Basilan, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.
Civilians have been providing information about the rebel group and other lawless elements to police and military in Basilan, but they had been also targeted by the Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner)
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