Troops launch offensive vs. Abu Sayyaf militants in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Government troops on Tuesday mounted fresh operations to flush out Abu Sayyaf militants, blamed for the spate of kidnappings-for-ransom in Basilan island in the southern Philippines. On Monday, seven people had been kidnapped in the restive province, south of Zamboanga City, and two government militias were wounded in an attack later in the day near Ungkaya Pukan town, scene of previous clashes between Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels and soldiers. Marine Col. Rustico Guererro said troops were also parrying attacks from members of the country's largest Muslim rebel group MILF, who were allegedly sheltering the Abu Sayyaf militants. The Abu Sayyaf has been linked by authorities to the Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya. Guererro blamed the attack on the Marine post on the MILF rebels. "The attack is believed to a diversionary tactic by the rebels to slow us down, but our operation against the Abu Sayyaf will continue until they are neutralized," he said. There were no reports about the fate of the kidnapped victims, all logging workers, but Guererro said security forces were sent to track down the hostages. "These people were all innocent victims. There are efforts to locate them," he said. No group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, although the military suspects the MILF was behind it. Eid Kabalu, a senior MILF leader, said government forces were attacking rebel positions in the guise of pursuing Abu Sayyaf militants, blamed for the string of attacks on troops and kidnappings-for-ransom on the island, south of Zamboanga City. "We are still awaiting reports from our commanders in Basilan about the fighting," he said. "Apparently, the military is just using the operations against the Abu Sayyaf to justify continued attacks on the MILF." Basilan Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul said more than 700 Muslim families were affected by the sporadic fighting between rebels and soldiers. "We hope this fighting would end soon," he said. Fighting on the island began last Friday after troops mounted an operation to flush out the Abu Sayyaf, which is believed to be holding two kidnapped civilians - Joed Pilangga, a nursing student snatched Oct. 17 in Zamboanga City, and Nicole Raveche, seized Nov. 26 in Lamitan city - for ransom. More than a dozen people had been kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf militants in Basilan, including two aid workers, and most of them had been freed in exchange for huge ransoms. Locals blamed the police and military authorities in Basilan, one of six provinces under the Muslim autonomous region, for its failure to secure the safety of the civilians. The military accused MILF rebels of sheltering Puruji Indama and Nur Hassan Jamiri, leaders of an Abu Sayyaf faction largely blamed for the kidnappings in Basilan. They also sent letters to Christians living on the island threatening them with harm if they do not embrace Islam. A Catholic clergy, Bishop Martin Jumoad, has previously blamed the police and military for the breakdown of peace and order in Basilan after receiving also a signed letter from the Abu Sayyaf threatening his group. Jumoad earlier sought the replacement of the Basilan police chief Salik Macapantar for his failure to secure the island from the Abu Sayyaf atrocities. In October, gunmen also ambushed and wounded Claretian priest Felimon Libot in while on his way to say mass in Basilan's Sumisip town. - GMANews.TV