Army continues war vs Sayyaf despite Ramadan

Government forces have neither stopped nor scaled down the offensive operations against the Abu Sayyaf militants in Basilan and Sulu in the wake of several weeks of lull, Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano said Sunday. The last skirmish reported between the pursuing government forces and the Abu Sayyaf was last August 28 in the village of Bohelebong in Tipo-Tipo town in Basilan. Two Marines were injured in the clash. Yano said soldiers are still engaged in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan. The Marines, who have suffered heavy casualties from the al-Qaeda linked group, are leading the anti-terrorist campaign in the province. On July 10, Abu Sayyaf and secessionist fighters ambushed government forces in Al Barkah town in Basilan, killing 14 Marines, 10 of them were beheaded and mutilated. On August 18, 15 Marines including five officers died when they assaulted a camp of the Abu Sayyaf in Ungkaya Pukan town, also in Basilan. The military claimed at least 42 bandits died in the assault. “Our operations are continuing. We have an Army brigade in Basilan and we also have a separate brigade there in Sulu and there is no halt in our operations against the Abu Sayyaf terrorists," said Yano. The Army chief even said that the ongoing campaign has not weakened even during the observance of the Ramadan, the Muslims’ holy month that started last Wednesday. All Muslims usually devote their time to prayers and fasting during the period. “I would like to emphasize that our operations against the Abu Sayyaf have not stopped or scaled down even during Ramadan because we feel that these Abu Sayyaf terrorists do not deserve a break," Yano said. “So we will continue without let up our operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group." “In the last few days, we have not heard of any violent incidents or encounters (between the troops and the Abu Sayyaf) but this does not mean that we have stopped or scaled down our operations. These operations will be continuing without let up," he said. - GMANews.TV