Thursday, May 16, 2013

Skirmishes in Sulu island town continue

From the Philippine Star (May 16): Skirmishes in Sulu island town continue

Skirmishes between warring clans continued on the island municipality of Tongkil in Sulu, which reportedly left an undetermined number of casualties, a military official said Thursday.

Reports said that the number of casualties in the clashes between the followers of Wahid Sahidulla and Abdulla Alih has reached 21.

“The intermittent skirmishes started Monday and there were reported casualties on both sides. But we cannot really confirm the figure,” said Col. Jose Joriel Cenabre, 2nd Marine Brigade commander and head of Task Force Sulu.

Sulu provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Antonio Freyra has been sacked from his post because of the clashes.

Cenabre said that the skirmishes forced a number of villagers to evacuate for fear from being caught in the crossfire.

He said most of the evacuees fled to their relatives living in other villages.

Cenabre said the fighting between the two clans did not affect the just concluded elections in the island municipality, with the Marines now detailed as a peacekeeping force to pacify the two opposing groups.

He said that they have already coordinated with the respected Muslim elders to help mediate the two factions.

He added that the Philippine National Police will send a team of Special Action Force members to the island municipality.

http://www.philstar.com/election-2013/2013/05/16/942759/skirmishes-sulu-island-town-continue

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.