7 Sayyaf rebels slain in Sulu; MILF attacks army outposts

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas stormed two Army detachments in Kabacan, North Cotabato last Thursday, forcing military troopers to lay siege on rebel positions.

This developed as seven Abu Sayyaf rebels were killed in fierce clashes with Army commandos in the jungle of Parang, Sulu the other day.

In another encounter in Jolo, Sulu’s capital town, Jawawi Susukan, younger brother of Abu Sayyaf leader Mujib Susukan, and Army integree Pfc. Issah Sali were slain.

Brig. Gen. Roy Kyamko, commanding general of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said at least 60 MILF fighters equipped with B40 rockets pounded the detachments of the 39th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Pisan starting at about 5:20 p.m. Thursday.

The attack, Kyamko said, prompted soldiers based in Sitios Libungan and Kulaman to bombard the rebels’ positions with mortars. The heavy exchange of artillery lasted for more than three hours.

There were no immediate reports of MILF casualties.

The military criticized the MILF for being insincere by violating its own truce declaration for launching the attacks.

Government and MILF negotiators continue to hold backchannel dialogues in preparation for the resumption of peace negotiations either in Malaysia or Indonesia.

In Sulu, Col. Juvenal Narcise, spokesman of Task Force Comet, said the latest encounter with the Abu Sayyaf occurred in Barangay Upper Buhe in Parang town at about 11:50 a.m. Friday.

Another clash took place two hours later in Barangay Labah in the adjacent town of Maimbung.

Although the military said seven extremist rebels were killed in the firefight, Army officials believe the number of fatalities could be higher. — Roel Pareño