GOVERNMENT troops killed a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group
(ASG) on Sunday in Sulu as a military operation in another province has forced
the evacuation of hundreds of villagers.
The ASG member was slain as the military pursued members of
the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao, 683 kilometers
southwest of Jolo.
Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of the military’s Joint
Task Group Sulu, identified the killed ASG member as Haber Qudama, alias Abu
Qudama. Arrojado said Qudama was killed in a shootout with security forces
during a special intelligence operations at Sitio Annur, Barangay Buanza,
Indanan, Sulu.
Arrojado said Qudama was a member of the ASG under a
subleader known as Sibih Pishi, whose unit operates in the municipalities of Indanan,
Parang and Maimbung. Qudama died at around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, after he
engaged a joint team of policemen and soldiers who were serving a warrant of
arrest against him, according to Arrojado.
Arrojado said pending warrants of arrest against Qudama
covered his involvement in the Sipadan kidnapping and the Pearl Farm kidnapping
in Samal, Davao del Norte, in May 2001.
Meanwhile, soldiers continued to pursue members of the BIFF
who attacked troops guarding a government project in the outskirts of Datu Salibo,
a sixth-class municipality in the province
of Maguindanao
The attack occurred on Friday evening against soldiers and
armored personnel carriers (APCs) guarding the project at Sitio Dagading,
Barangay Tee, Datu Salibo. An officer identified as Capt. Amoloy, commander of
the Army’s Second Mechanized Battalion, was slightly wounded, according to the
military.
The attack carried out by groups of four BIFF commanders has
forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents. The 2010 census placed
residents in the municipality at 15,062 in 4,255 households. The BIFF
commanders identified as Bungos, Abusaiden, Kagui Tatang and Ustadz Roman were
supported by snipers, according to the military.
Using APCs against the attacking BIFF contingent, the
soldiers evacuated the workers and secured construction equipment, the military
said. However, a backhoe was damaged during the firefight.
Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, public affairs officer of the Army’s
6th Infantry Division (ID), said soldiers were pursuing the attackers, while
additional forces were deployed to augment the 1st Mechanized Battalion in
securing the government project.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6th ID commander,
said the military is prepared for any scenario associated with lawmakers’
failure to pass the Bangsamoro basic law (BBL). Pangilinan said one of the
scenarios may involve renewed conflict with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF).
“We are [always] prepared for any eventualities,” Pangilinan
said.
He added there seems to be a détente in between the
government of the Republic of the Philippines
“We do not feel anything; they do not have any manifestation
[for trouble]. The MILF leadership has said with or without the BBL, they will
pursue peace. And that’s a good sign,” Pangilinan said. Rene Acosta.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/troops-kill-abu-sayyaf-after-roadside-bombing/
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