 Continued military operations in south-central Mindanao last week resulted in the killing of at least half a dozen Abu Sayyaf members and their local allies, a ranking Army commander said on Saturday. Col. Alfredo Cayton, chief of the Army's 601st Infantry Brigade, said the combined forces of the Abu Sayyaf and Abu Sofia, both linked with the Jemaah Islamiyah, have been engaging government troops in running gunbattles since Oct. 6 in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat. He said the latest encounter, where the military had to use air assault, was on Oct. 20 in Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato. "There (was) no body count," explained Cayton, "because the casualties [killed and injured] were taken along by their comrades in their withdrawal. But, according to field reports, four to six were seen being dragged and carried as they retreat(ed)." He said the government suffered no casualties. |