| Casualty in Sulu
continue to rise SULU
(ABS-CBN) - The death toll in the on going military assault against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu
rose to 135 as the rescue operations entered its 18th day Tuesday.
Of the total fatalities, eight belonged to the government --
five soldiers and three civilian volunteers -- while the remaining 127 were from the Abu
Sayyaf terrorists.
In addition, 16 have been wounded on the government side while
53 ASG members are under custody of the government.
Three encounters occurred Monday afternoon in separate towns
in Sulu, on the same day all the 12 Jesus Miracle Crusade "prayer warriors" were
rescued by pursuing government troops.
The first encounter occurred 6:30 a.m. between elements of the
Alpha Company of the 59th Infantry Battalion and Abu Sayyaf bandits in Barangay Puting
Buhangin in Talipao.
Firefight lasted for 15 minutes wherein 10 ASG members were
killed while there was no casualty on the government side.
Recovered from the encounter site were a bandoleer with two
magazines for M16 rifles; three batteries; one US camouflage field jacket; a sunglass and
two containers of crude oil.
Around 2:15 p.m., Marine soldiers scouring barangay Sangahan
in Talipao engaged about 20 fully-armed ASG bandits headed by an unknown commander in a
10-minute firefight.
Two MG520 attack helicopters provided close air support to the
ground troops which prompted the enemy to withdraw toward the southwest direction.
Marine soldiers later discovered traces of blood along the
escape route of the terrorists although there were no confirmed report of any casualties
on both sides.
Recovered were assorted foodstuffs; a black uniform with
patches of "MNLF Ranger" with name cloth "Salip Sakib;" and a Marine
camouflage with name cloth "Mahir/Army."
The last recorded encounter last Monday occurred 4:36 p.m.
between elements from the 23rd Marine Company and 70 ASG members in Barangay Kugas in
Patikul.
The 30-minute firefight resulted in the death of Marine
Private First Class Michael Mique and the wounding of two others: Sergeant Leopoldo Ramos
and Corporal Mariano Jampit.
As in previous encounters, two MG520 choppers provided close
air support to the ground troops which prompted the enemy to scamper toward different
directions.
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