Military tags Abu Sayyaf in Basilan explosions

(Updated 10:40 p.m.) The Philippine military has tagged the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf behind the series of attacks in Basilan in southern Philippines on Tuesday, where 11 people, including three Marines, were killed. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, commander of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command, said around six Abu Sayyaf bandits, clad in police uniforms, were supposed to stage a kidnapping in the area. However, an improvised explosive device the suspects were carrying "accidentally" went off near the Basilan National High School grandstand in Isabela City at about 10:30 a.m. even before they could carry out their plan. "This could be a foiled kidnapping attempt... Mukhang accidental ang pagsabog [It seemed the explosive device accidentally went off]," Dolorfino said. A policeman passing by the area on board his motorcycle was killed in the blast. Three of the suspected bandits were killed in the blast, one was wounded, while another was captured when responding Marines arrived. Before the arrest, a firefight ensued between the bandit group and government troops, leaving three Marines dead and another one wounded. "This is something new na nagsuot sila ng uniform ng (that they wore uniforms of the) Philippine National Police... Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit hindi sila namataan ng ating tropa at civilians (That's the reason why they were not recognized)," Dolorfino said. During interrogation, the wounded bandit — who was rushed to a nearby hospital — told investigators he was part of a group recruited by the Abu Sayyaf in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan. Group under Commander Indama During the incident, the bandits — suspected to belong under the faction of Commander Puruji Indama — also shot dead four civilians as part of an alleged retaliatory attack. After the first blast, a second group of bandits standing about 800 meters away from the school grandstand was forced to flee. While they were driving away from the crime scene, the second group of bandits chanced upon another group of responding soldiers, triggering an encounter. A second explosion occurred near a cathedral in the same city but no one emerged hurt. Authorities later discovered a third improvised explosive device near the house of Judge Leo Jay Principe but detonated it in an isolated area. Dolorfino did not discount the possibility that the attacks could be connected to the upcoming elections in May. "Kung tama na kidnapping ito(If this was part of a planned kidnapping), it could be part of fund raising [activities] ng (of) politicians na kaalyado ng (with links to the) Abu Sayyaf," Dolorfino said. But then again, he added that the attacks could have been a "purely Abu Sayyaf operation" and had nothing to do with the polls. Available in local markets Dolorfino noted how police and military uniforms could easily be obtained by civilians, even as he urged authorities to implement stricter measures against it. "Available naman iyon sa lokal market, ang unfirom ng sundalo at police kaya dapat magkaroon ng control measure (The uniforms are available in local markets... we need stricter measures)," Dolorfino said. Philippine Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban had earlier described the incidents as "acts of terrorism." "I think this is to create havoc in that area. I don’t know who the specific targets are but definitely it falls under terrorism, that is to create chaos," Sabban said. Dolorfino assured that the situation in the area has "normalized," even as members of a crisis management committee in Zamboanga City have convened to help in the investigation of the incident. — RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV