10 Abu Sayyaf men killed in Basilan fighting, says military

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Ten suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in a gunbattle with government troops early Wednesday in the southern province of Basilan, a military official said. 1st Lt. Steffani Cacho, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) information officer, said the firefight broke out when troops stormed a training camp of the gunmen at around 3 a.m. Wednesday in sitio Kurellem in Barangay Silangkum, Ungkaya Pukan town. Advancing government forces have so far recovered 10 bodies, whose identities have yet to be established, Cacho said. She said government troops also suffered casualties but no details were immediately available. “At the moment, fighing is still ongoing and the exact number of government casualties cannot yet be released,"she said. The Abu Sayyaf men were reportedly being trained to make improvised bombs in the camp. Plenty of improvised explosive devices, the military term for improvised bombs, were found inside the camp. “The improvised bombs were detonated on site," the military spokesperson said. Government forces also recovered 13 high-powered firearms and documents of high intelligence value, she added. Unkaya Pukan town is a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf. In August 2007, five junior officers and 10 enlisted men of the Philippine Marines were killed in a clash with the Abu Sayyaf in one of the town’s villages. The Marines were completing their training on close-quarter combat and were sent to the Abu Sayyaf lair in the town on a test mission when they go in contact with the bandits. Cacho said the camp is being maintained by Khair Mundos, an alleged Abu Sayyaf financier. The United States government is offering up to $500,000 reward for anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest of Mundos, who escaped in 2007 from the provincial jail of North Cotabato in Kidapawan City. - GMANews.TV