Abu Sayyaf fighters on patrol. Reuters file photograph
Reports reaching Manila indicated that the military has buried a Moroccan bomb-making expert who was killed during fierce fighting between government troops and the Abu Sayyaf in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan over the weekend.
"Mohammad Khattab was buried in accordance with Muslim rites, but we buried him and we will not give his remains to anyone)," Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla told reporters at Villamor Airbase on Tuesday.
The weekend firefight saw at least 18 soldiers killed and more than 50 individuals wounded.
Meanwhile, military pursuit operations overseen by Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo de la Cruz of the Western Mindanao Command are continuing against the Abu Sayyaf, who, Padilla said, have so far suffered 25 dead, although he acknowledged that full information on the slain gunmen is still in the process of being gathered.
"The enemy here is terrorism ... terrorism that knows no religion, that knows no nationality, everyone is a victim when we speak of terrorism," Padilla said.
He added that the casualties suffered by the military have only made the soldiers more determined to press the fight.
However, he declined to give the number of troops involved in the operations against the Abu Sayyaf.
http://interaksyon.com/article/126349/military-buries-slain-moroccan-bomber-in-basilan
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