Two more Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed as clashes between soldiers and the terrorist group entered its second day yesterday in the hinterlands of Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat. At least four terrorists had been killed since clashes erupted on Thursday. Col. Alfredo Cayton, commander of the Army's 601st Infantry Brigade based in Sarangani, said two soldiers were also slightly wounded.One of those killed was Bedis Binago, one of the founders of the local Abu Sufia gang and a liaison officer for Isnilon Hapilon. Cayton said soldiers from the 27th IB were pursuing Hapilon's group when a clash ensued in Barangay Lomitan on Thursday afternoon. Bodies of the terrorists, two M-16 rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with three shells, a Thompson assault rifle and a .45 cal. pistol, had been recovered, he said. Cayton said they expect the number of enemy casualty to increase as soldiers continue to scour the area.
Palimbang Mayor Labualas Mamansual said some 2,011 families have left the area, afraid of being caught in the crossfire. The evacuees, he said, are temporarily staying with their relatives in nearby Mindupok and Pi€ol villages in Maitum, Sarangani and in Barangay Malisbong in Palimbang. Mamansual said food is running short because the town's calamity fund has been exhausted.
Meanwhile in Basilan, unidentified gunmen murdered six fishermen, the military said. Col. Raymundo Ferrer, commander of the Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade based on Basilan Island, said a boy, who was with the fishermen, survived the slaughter and is in police custody. Ferrer said the victims from Barangay Rio Hondo were fishing off Pilas Island early Thursday when attacked by armed men based in nearby Baluk Baluk Island. The two islands are part of Lantawan town, one of the lairs of the Abu Sayyaf. The local police said the survivor, who was still in a state of shock, said the attack actually occurred Wednesday afternoon. Chief Insp. Jones Tubig quoted Ulan Sablani, 12, as saying they were aboard two fishing boats near Pilas Island when armed men in another boat fired at them around 5 p.m. Tubig said the boy pretended to be dead as the armed men detached the engines of the fishermen's boats.