Abu Sayyaf deaths rise to 8 after military assault

MANILA, Philippines — Eight suspected rebels were killed and 13 others injured in last Thursday’s raid by government forces on an Abu Sayyaf camp in the southern province of Sulu, the military said on Friday. On the government side, two were killed and seven were injured, Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said, citing a report from AFP Joint Task Force Comet commander Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban. Fierce fighting ensued late on Thursday when government troops assaulted the rebel camp in the village of Timahu village in Indanan town, he said. Arevalo said six of the slain Abu Sayyaf members were identified as Ting and Magdar Jumdael – both sons of Abu Jumdael, alias Dr. Abu; Armida, a daughter of Dr. Abu; a certain Darul, a certain Sallam and a certain Julmillun. The two others were not identified. Among those wounded was Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Albader Parad and his brother Saddam, broadcast reports said. Earlier reports that he was killed in a clash with government troops have turned out to be false. Parad has been tagged as leader of the kidnapping of three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Patikul, Sulu last Jan. 15. Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba and Swiss Andreas Notter were freed in April, but the bandits are still holding Italian Eugenio Vagni. The local Crisis Management Committee led by Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan has authorized the military to conduct offensive rescue operations for Vagni in view of his deteriorating health. Arevalo said search and rescue operations by government forces are continuing. “Follow through combat operations still in progress. As the operations were surgical and deliberate, we will not be cowed by the casualties we sustained. It would instead fuel our resolve to end the menace that the bandit Abu Sayaff Group brings to the people of Sulu," said Arevalo. - GMANews.TV