SULU – Governor Sakur Tan visited Saturday over a
dozen wounded soldiers who clashed with Abu Sayyaf gunmen at a military
hospital in the capital town of Jolo and handed them financial assistance, and
condoling with security officials and troops for the brutal killings of 11 infantrymen in
Sulu’s Patikul town.
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| Sulu Governor Sakur Tan hands over financial assistance to all wounded soldiers at a military hospital in Jolo town on Saturday, April 18, 2020. |
Vinluan also awarded medals to the
wounded soldiers.
Tan has strongly condemned the Friday slayings of
the soldiers, calling it barbaric and un-Islamic. “We strongly condemn
this violence and the senseless war that has claimed many innocent lives and
affected the lives of civilians and the peace and development efforts of our
government,” he said.
Fierce fighting broke out in the village of Danag
after troops encountered with dozens of militants under Hajan Sawadjaan, one of
the most notorious Abu Sayyaf leader blamed by authorities for the spate of
attacks and cross-border kidnappings in Malaysia’s state of Sabah.
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Manila has also condemned the atrocities of the Abu
Sayyaf. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the latest incident in
Patikul, Sulu, where members of the Abu Sayyaf Group believed to be under ASG
leader Radullan Sahiron and Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan attacked government troops
resulting in a firefight, which left 11 soldiers killed and 14 wounded.”
“The Office of the President expresses its
sincerest condolences to the bereaved families left behind by our brave
soldiers who fought hard and paid the ultimate sacrifice to secure our
community. We honor and pray for the fallen,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry
Roque.
It was the second deadly fighting since April 16
where three soldiers were also wounded and that many militants killed,
according to Vinluan.
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| Army photo shows recovered Abu Sayyaf weapons and ammunition. |
The fighting erupted amid the coronavirus pandemic
and while soldiers were assisting in the government humanitarian and health
efforts to control or prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
“The enemies of the State choose no date and
occasion. They strike even during this time of great pandemic. But let this
serve as a warning to all - our authorities remain ready and prepared to crush
the enemies of the government and quell any armed attack amid the existing state
of calamity and public health emergency,” Roque said.
Sobejana and the Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay also
condemned the killings. “The Western Mindanao Command empathizes with the
bereaved families of our fallen heroes who, with their intestinal fortitude,
fought hard and braved the encounter against the Abu Sayyaf group in Danag,
Patikul, Sulu at 3:05 p.m. (Friday). The Western Mindanao Command’s Joint Task
Forces nevertheless sustain their security operations while they take the lead
in the strict enforcement of the quarantine,” it said.
Media reports said the soldiers are members of the
21st Infantry Battalion and Scout Ranger, and among the dead was a lieutenant.
News website Rappler reported that the soldiers lost seven R4 assault rifles,
one grenade launcher and a K3 machine gun, including a radio transceiver to the
Abu Sayyaf.
Gruesome photos of the slain soldiers posted on
Facebook have since gone viral.
The Philippine Army honored the slain soldiers, calling them “heroes who sacrificed their lives to attain peace and stability in Sulu.”
The Philippine Army honored the slain soldiers, calling them “heroes who sacrificed their lives to attain peace and stability in Sulu.”
“The Philippine Army is saddened with the events in
Sulu today. While our troops are deployed all over the country supporting the
National Effort against the NCOVID Pandemic, the fight against terrorism
continues,” Gapay said.
“Today, we offer our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of our 11 Sulu heroes who gallantly fought to the last breath against Abu Sayyaf terrorists. While it is a sad day for us, their sacrifices will inspire us to strengthen our resolve until we are free from terrorism. This setback will not deter us from performing our duty to serve the Filipino people and secure our land,” he added.
Security forces are battling the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group for the past 2 decades now and despite government efforts to lure them to surrender in exchange for livelihood and financial aid, its members continue to wage a violent campaign in the restive region.
Its leaders have pledged allegiance to ISIS or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and vowed to put up a caliphate in Mindanao, one of the country’s three main islands largely populated by Christians, although the region was once under the powerful rule of the sultans. (Zamboanga Post)
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