Heavily armed members of the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group ambushed and killed at least 19 people, including women and children, on their way to visit relatives at the end of Ramadan on the island province of Sulu in Mindanao.Brigadier General Martin Pinto said the attack was considered one of the worst and bloodiest perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf in years. He said the victims were among 50 people aboard two vans on their way to visit relatives in a village in the coastal town of Talipao when the Abu Sayyaf attacked them on Monday.
Aside from the women and children, pro-government militiamen were among the victims who were traveling to visit their relatives for Eid Al Fitr.
Initially, Pinto said, the Abu Sayyaf killed 16 people composed of 10 women and six men. The number rose to 19 when three more died in the hospital from serious injuries they sustained in the attack, he added.
Pinto disclosed the