Janjalani, JI leader wounded in Sulu clash
The military, quoting civilian sources, reported yesterday that Abu Sayyaf chief Khadaffy Janjalani and Indonesian Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) bomb expert Umar Patek may have been wounded after a heavy firefight with government troops in the jungles of Patikul, Sulu.
Missed him by that much, Chief.
Col. Allan Luga, chief of the Armed Forces Operations Center at Camp Aguinaldo, said the military is still verifying the reports, which quoted civilian sources who allegedly saw the wounded Janjalani and Patek. "Omar Patek and Janjalani were wounded as per report from civilians. We are still confirming this. Until such time that we confirm that, we cannot really say that they were wounded during the encounter with the Marines," Luga said.
He said there were specific reports from civilians that Janjalani was hit in the back. He added there are reports that four wounded Abu Sayyaf bandits were seen being carried on horseback in the jungle. Luga said relentless operations since Aug. 1 in Patikul and Parang towns have forced the militants to split into
Pray for sepsis.
two main groups, with the larger band of about 150 to 200 guerrillas led by Janjalani heading toward Mt. Sinumaan. Also sighted with JanjalaniÂ’s groups were Patek and another JI member Dulmatin, who uses only one name, and Abu Sayyaf leaders Radullan Sahiron, Isnilon Hapilon and Abu Solaiman. The smaller group, composed of 30 to 40 bandits, went to Mt. Tukay in Parang town, where the latest encounter with the Marines occurred.
The military said that two soldiers and two Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed while several others were wounded in that encounter. Luga said two soldiers were killed and three others were wounded on Wednesday, while one Abu Sayyaf bandit was shot dead before dawn Thursday. The body of another guerrilla believed to have been killed on Wednesday was also recovered yesterday. Two Abu Sayyaf members were also captured on Tuesday. He said the latest casualties came after six Marines were killed and 19 wounded on Monday in one of the biggest operations against the Abu Sayyaf group protecting Dulmatin and Patek, the two Indonesian militants belonging to the al-Qaeda-linked JI. "We have the upperhand." Luga said. "ThatÂ’s the reason why they split into groups, so that the concentration of the troops would be diverted. But, as IÂ’ve said, we have employed a lot of soldiers in the area, so they are on the run."
Reinforcements due
Luga said fresh reinforcements were headed for Jolo Thursday, including a battalion of 500 special forces troops to augment about 1,500 soldiers and Marines. The offensive in the area was prompted by the recent sightings of Janjalani and the Indonesian fugitives who are both wanted for allegedly helping plan the October 2002 bombings in Bali that killed 202 people, most of them foreign tourists. Western Mindanao Command chief Maj. Gen. Eugenio Cedo said the Abu Sayyaf members encountered by government troops were probably trying to reinforce JanjalaniÂ’s group that was reported to be trapped in Patikul. Cedo flew to Sulu yesterday morning, after leading the funeral service at Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City for the six Marines who were earlier killed in the fighting.
The slain soldiers were identified as Corporals Isagani Zamora, Judy Gatan and Ryan Socratez and Privates First Class Harold Almodobar, Jayson Paiton and Gilbert Parsia II. Cedo said additional troops are arriving in Sulu to join the offensive and prevent the bandits from escaping. Two Marines who were wounded in the fighting are currently confined at the Camp Navarro General Hospital inside the Western Mindanao Command (formerly Southern Command) headquarters in Zamboanga City. Pfc. Nicholas Polmo said that during the firefight, he noticed one of the Abu Sayyaf leaders, believed to be Janjalani, riding on a horse moving around and directing the assault on the soldiers. Polmo said he tried to shoot the horse rider, but he moved fast and trees blocked his line of fire. "Janjalani was moving around directing all the followers to hit us," said Polmo who sustained bullet wounds on his thigh and abdomen. He said it was hard to recognize the presence of the two JI members Dulmatin and Patek among the bandits because it was early dawn and still dark. Marine Pfc. Dante Advincula said his group was able to penetrate the outer perimeter of the Abu Sayyaf position. Advincula, who was shot in the right side of the head by sniper fire, said the troops engaged the bandits. Some of Abu Sayyaf members are believed to be equipped with night vision goggles.
Gee, would those goggles be from the British batch that Iran has been handing out like party favors to all the terrorists?
"So we stood with the mission to hit their core and put our stand," he said after coordinating with their commanders. He said their 28-man Marines commando unit, that was also equipped with night vision goggles, began creeping towards the Abu Sayyaf position at Luba Hill in barangay Tugason on Sunday night. -