Death toll in fighting between govt troops and Abu Sayyaf in Sulu rises to 45
Heavy gun battle between government troops and Daesh-linked militants has resumed a day after the military suffered 15 deaths Monday in Sulu in the southern Philippines, according to the military officials.
In a news briefing Tuesday afternoon, Western Mindanao Command spokesman Major Filemon Tan Jr. said since the intensified military offensives were launched from August 26, to date in Sulu, casualties on the Abu Sayyaf group have reached a total of 30 to include their leaders.
"The number of killed Abu Sayyaf bandits is already 30 while 11 others injured. On the government side, we suffered 15 killed in action and 29 others wounded," Tan told defense reporters in a press briefing at Camp Navarro, Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City.
"So the total number of deaths on both sides is 45 and 40 others
including our troops and Abu Sayyaf were injured since Friday
fighting," Tan said
He said during the National Heroes Day on Monday, August 29, fifteen of their Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comrades were immortalized as heroes.
"Our forces fought gallantly, the firefight was intense and our troops sacrificed their lives to give the next generation the peace and security they truly deserve," Tan said.
"We will mourn the loss of our brothers, but it will not dampen the fighting spirit of our troops. The momentum is in our side and we will continue this fight until we accomplish the mission," he added.
The regional Army spokesman said whoever block the way of troops or help the Abu Sayyaf, will be dealt more severely.
"What you see is just the tip of the iceberg, more troops, more
equipment and more firepower will be committed to destroy the Abu Sayyaf. It is just a matter of time," said Tan.
He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is appealing to the
Filipino people to pray for their troops.
Meanwhile, the Commander, Joint Task Force Sulu, Brigadier General Arnel de la Vega, said in a statement that intense fighting is on going in Sulu since 1:50pm of 29 August 2016.
He said Army soldiers of the 21st Infantry Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Presco Lobos are battling heavily armed terrorist Abu Sayyaf under sub-leader Jamiri Jawong Jauhari in Sitio Kugan, Barangay Bakung, Patikul, Sulu.
"In this fierce on going armed encounter, two ASG members were killed and a number of them severely wounded as they withdrew southeast,"Lobos said.
The security forces meanwhile suffered zero casualty, he added.
Tan said the soldiers grieve for their fallen comrades last Monday, but instead of waning, the soldiers pressed on in the fight. The ultimate sacrifice and acts of gallantry become their driving force to hit back once.
Tan said the total Abu Sayyaf fighters in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are placed at 481.
The military, however, does not have exact figures on the group's
sympathizers, supporters or operatives recruited through dubious means.
The Abu Sayyaf beheaded two Canadians and a Filipino teenager this year.
Just early this month, two of the seven Indonesian sailors kidnapped from a tugboat off Tawi-Tawi escaped captivity but there was speculation the Abu Sayyaf freed them after their families paid their ransoms.
Aside from remaining Indonesian captives, three Malaysians sailors, a Dutch bird watcher, a Norwegian and some Filipinos are still being held by the Daesh-affiliated group. MGPI News
In a news briefing Tuesday afternoon, Western Mindanao Command spokesman Major Filemon Tan Jr. said since the intensified military offensives were launched from August 26, to date in Sulu, casualties on the Abu Sayyaf group have reached a total of 30 to include their leaders.
"The number of killed Abu Sayyaf bandits is already 30 while 11 others injured. On the government side, we suffered 15 killed in action and 29 others wounded," Tan told defense reporters in a press briefing at Camp Navarro, Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City.
"So the total number of deaths on both sides is 45 and 40 others
including our troops and Abu Sayyaf were injured since Friday
fighting," Tan said
He said during the National Heroes Day on Monday, August 29, fifteen of their Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comrades were immortalized as heroes.
"Our forces fought gallantly, the firefight was intense and our troops sacrificed their lives to give the next generation the peace and security they truly deserve," Tan said.
"We will mourn the loss of our brothers, but it will not dampen the fighting spirit of our troops. The momentum is in our side and we will continue this fight until we accomplish the mission," he added.
The regional Army spokesman said whoever block the way of troops or help the Abu Sayyaf, will be dealt more severely.
"What you see is just the tip of the iceberg, more troops, more
equipment and more firepower will be committed to destroy the Abu Sayyaf. It is just a matter of time," said Tan.
He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is appealing to the
Filipino people to pray for their troops.
Meanwhile, the Commander, Joint Task Force Sulu, Brigadier General Arnel de la Vega, said in a statement that intense fighting is on going in Sulu since 1:50pm of 29 August 2016.
He said Army soldiers of the 21st Infantry Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Presco Lobos are battling heavily armed terrorist Abu Sayyaf under sub-leader Jamiri Jawong Jauhari in Sitio Kugan, Barangay Bakung, Patikul, Sulu.
"In this fierce on going armed encounter, two ASG members were killed and a number of them severely wounded as they withdrew southeast,"Lobos said.
The security forces meanwhile suffered zero casualty, he added.
Tan said the soldiers grieve for their fallen comrades last Monday, but instead of waning, the soldiers pressed on in the fight. The ultimate sacrifice and acts of gallantry become their driving force to hit back once.
Tan said the total Abu Sayyaf fighters in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are placed at 481.
The military, however, does not have exact figures on the group's
sympathizers, supporters or operatives recruited through dubious means.
The Abu Sayyaf beheaded two Canadians and a Filipino teenager this year.
Just early this month, two of the seven Indonesian sailors kidnapped from a tugboat off Tawi-Tawi escaped captivity but there was speculation the Abu Sayyaf freed them after their families paid their ransoms.
Aside from remaining Indonesian captives, three Malaysians sailors, a Dutch bird watcher, a Norwegian and some Filipinos are still being held by the Daesh-affiliated group. MGPI News
No comments:
Post a Comment