11 killed, 10 wounded as Sayyaf gunmen attack village

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  — Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen raided a village in Basilan early yesterday, killing at least 11 people, including a one-year-old girl.

Police said most of the villagers of Poblacion Tubigan in Maluso town were asleep when they were attacked by suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists at 4 a.m. yesterday.

The attackers opened fire with automatic weapons and torched several houses in the village that also left 10 people wounded, including four children who were last reported in critical condition.

Initial reports said the number of victims could increase since many of the villagers were caught in a hail of gunfire from the attackers.

Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino said the gunmen came from the group of Abu Sayyaf leader Puruji Indama who were joined by the followers of renegade Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander Dick Alao.

Basilan provincial police director Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza said some 70 gunmen swooped down on the village and torched the house of barangay chairman Leleng Laping.

“The gunmen set on fire the house of Laping and three others nearby and fired on the other houses while the victims were still asleep,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza said responding militiamen forced the attackers to withdraw.

Mendoza identified the victims as one-year-old Karen Bucoy, her brother Arjie, 9; Abegail, 10; Tawasil Idjiran, 50; Lorna Sahidda Salisa; Salima Salapuddin; Rodel Pagdalian; Timhaar Arakani; Istilito Bacus; and Laping’s two children John and Benjie.

Mendoza said the children were burned to death inside their house.

He said the attack could have been triggered by a tribal “rido” or feud between Alao and Laping.

Alao was a former member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in the area but was expelled for his alleged criminal activities.

Alao reportedly accused Laping of being behind the recent murder of his son.

MILF chief peace negotiator Mohaqher Iqbal has denied the rebel group’s involvement in the attack.

Iqbal said the local ceasefire committee has reported the incident to the MILF which clarified no one among its guerrillas were involved in the atrocity.

The attack came in the wake of the recent killing of Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad and the arrest of two key leaders of the extremist group. Government forces had been told to be on alert for reprisal attacks.

It was the worst attack on civilians since 2001 when the Abu Sayyaf seized dozens of villagers and later beheaded nine farmers and shot to death another civilian in Lamitan town.

The attack also came a day after government troops rescued two Chinese nationals in nearby Sumisip town.

The two men were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf from a plywood factory in Maluso in November. One of the factory workers seized with them was beheaded.

Task Force Trillium Rear Admiral Alexander Pama said the attack was meant to divert security forces from going after the kidnappers.

“There’s a big probability that the attack is to ease the pressure that we were exerting against the kidnappers,” he said.

Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner noted the initial suspicions of the police that a tribal feud could have triggered the attack.

“One of the attackers identified by witnesses was sent away from the village three years ago due to some conflict. But it is too early to say if indeed the killings were driven by rido,” Brawner said.

Brawner said troops from the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion are now in pursuit of the gunmen.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa also ordered additional police forces to join the military’s pursuit operations. – With Jaime Laude, Rose Tamayo-Tesoro, Alexis Romero, AP