Abu Sayyaf attacks power barge in Basilan

From Malaya (Feb 26): Abu Sayyaf attacks power barge in Basilan

SUSPECTED members of the Abu Sayyaf group attacked a power barge of the National Power Corporation off Isabela City in Basilan on Monday night.

“The damage (on the power barge) is negligible,” Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade, said yesterday.

He also said Napocor authorities shut down power during the fighting as a precaution but restored it after a technical inspection.

Galvez said at least eight suspected Abu Sayyaf men aboard two boats strafed the barge anchored about 20 meters off Tabuc strait at around 10 p.m. Security personnel, including government militiamen aboard the barge, engaged the gunmen in a brief firefight, after which the suspects fled.

He said soldiers from the Army’s Special Forces Regiment who are stationed about 50 meters away also responded.

Galvez said two bullets penetrated the ventilation plant of the barge, and a fuse that was dislodged as a result of the attack was promptly put back.

Asked who the gunmen are, Galvez said, “Most probably, these are ASGs.”
As to their motive, he said, “Most probably extortion or possibly this is just a diversion. We don’t know.”

Galvez said the military is checking if the suspects fled to Tipo-tipo, Lamitan or Lantawan, all towns in Basilan.

“We have ongoing operations against whose details we cannot divulge,” he said.
Maj. Edgardo Amores, spokesman of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said checkpoints were established and waterborne patrols were conducted “to prevent further eventualities in the area and possible apprehension of the perpetrators.

Amores said the power barge, which has a capacity of 7.2 megawatts, supplies power to the entire Basilan province, a known bailiwick area of the Abu Sayyaf.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/news/nation/25235-abu-sayyaf-attacks-power-barge-in-basilan