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| Southeast Asia |
| Tacurong attack may be Abu Sayyaf diversion |
| 2005-07-23 |
| The daring attack on an Army detachment at a downtown area in Tacurong City on Tuesday afternoon could be a diversionary operation by supposed allies of suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits who are being hunted down by government forces in nearby Maguindanao province, an Army official said. Colonel Jerry Jalandoni, commander of the Army's 604th Infantry Brigade, said the manner of the attack on the detachment, which serves as the headquarters of the joint Task Force Talakudong, appears to be a ploy to get the military's attention. Two soldiers assigned with the task force were killed when a motorcycle-riding suspect barged into its headquarters and opened fire at soldiers manning the facility at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. The suspect was later killed by the responding troops. The task force headquarters, which occupies an unfinished building, is located in front of the city's public market and within the city's downtown business area. Jalandoni identified the slain soldiers as Police Officer Rodolfo Sagidili and Corporal Alberto Yanguas. The suspect, who did not have any identification card, was later identified as Ali Pasandalan, 21, a resident of barangay Talitay in Buluan, Maguindanao. "We are still verifying Pasandalan's affiliations through barangay (Talitay) chair Omar Mangudadatu," Jalandoni said in a radio interview. But he said they received reports that the Abu Sayyaf, which is allegedly being backed by terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, are reportedly planning to launch such kind of attacks. The Army's Sixth Infantry Division launched a major offensive late last week in Upi, Maguindanao against members of the Abu Sayyaf led by Kahdaffy Janjalani who have reportedly sought refuge in the area. Five alleged Abu Sayyaf members were reported killed the other day as a result of the continuing operations. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |