3 Abu Sayyaf bandits killed in Sulu air strike

Three suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in a military air strike Sunday in the outskirts of Indanan town in Sulu province, a Mindanao-based military official said. OV-10 bomber planes dropped bombs on the enemy lair at Karawan village at around 6:30 a.m. after the military received credible information on enemy presence, said Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the military’s Western Mindanao Command. Cabangbang said the area was “the harboring site" of Abu Sayyaf leader Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu. Jumdail’s group has been linked to the kidnapping of Filipino-American Gaerfa Yeatts Lunsmann, 42, her 14-year-old son and 19-year-old nephew at the Sacol island in Zamboanga Sibugay province last July. The mother was released in Maluso town in Basilan early this month. “We have been operating against this group for some time already," Cabangbang said. “From time to time, our Marines in the area are conducting operations especially when there are solid information." After the air strike, Marine soldiers proceeded to the area and recovered three cadavers, all clad in military uniforms. Cabangbang said the bodies were found about five meters from the impact area. Also found in the area were two M16 rifles, an M14 rifle, a cal. 45 pistol, personal belongings, assorted military uniforms, civilian bags, and laminated sacks. — KBK, GMA News