Abus attack Marines convoy in Sulu; 1 killed, 5 wounded

From the Daily Tribune (Feb 12): Abus attack Marines convoy in Sulu; 1 killed, 5 wounded

Abu Sayyaf terrorists yesterday ambushed a convoy, composed of Marines and civilians, in a vegetated area in Parang, Sulu province, killing a Marine soldier while five others were wounded.

Col. Jose Johriel Cenabre, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade, said that elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-9 (MBLT-9), along with members of Jolo Jaycees and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro), were returning from a tree-planting activity at around 10:30 a.m. when they were ambushed.

Cenabre said that the troops managed to return fire and engaged the Abu Sayyaf bandits into a 30-minute firefight.

“They had just came from a tree-planting activity when they were ambushed by a group of Abu Sayyaf,” Cenabre said.

“We have one KIA (killed in action) and three wounded in action,” Cenabre added.

According to Cenabre, the three wounded were immediately airlifted to Zamboanga City for proper medical attention. He said the troops were out of danger.

Cenabre said there was no civilian casualty during the ambush.

Capt. Ryan Lacuesta, spokesman of the 2nd Marine Brigade, said the convoy was composed of three M35 trucks, a V150 tank, a KM450 truck and two civilian vehicles.

“Our assessment is that this incident can be attributed to the retaliatory actions of the ASG on the government action last Feb. 8,” Lacuesta said.

Lacuesta was referring to the operation launched by the Marines last Saturday that resulted in the killing of six terrorists in Talipao, Sulu.

The Marine spokesman said that the encountered Abu Sayyaf band was composed of about 30 terrorists.

Meanwhile, soldiers were wounded after hitting a landmine planted by communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Davao del Sur province last Monday, belated reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo said yesterday.

Capt. Ernest Carolina, spokesman of the Army’s 10 Infantry Division (ID), identified those wounded as Sgt. Eliseo Perano, Cpl Marcelino Bagood Jr., Pfc Olomodin Dicampong, Pfc Lory Kim Lacal, Pfc Genesis Quilaton and Pvt. Michael Guibao.

Carolina said that Cpl Ricky Tuarez initially went missing but found hours after the encounter.

Reports showed that elements of the 39th Infantry Battalion (IB) were sent out to check on the reported presence of armed NPA rebels in Sitio Lutangan, Barangay Kapatagan in Digos City at around 2:30 p.m.

However, the soldiers while on foot patrol hit an NPA landmine, resulting in the wounding of the six troopers.

The Army troops managed to engage the NPA band into a gun battle that lasted for about an hour.

Carolina said that two NPA rebels were reported to have been hit during the clash.
The encountered NPA rebels were from the Front Committee-51, said Carolina.

“They were about 20, platoon size...their purpose we supposed is that they are trying to establish mass base in Davao del Sur which is already cleared (of communist influence)...they have effort to win it back,” Carolina said.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/abus-attack-marines-convoy-in-sulu-1-killed-5-wounded