July 4, 2003, The Philippine Star, Philippines: One soldier, five Abu Sayyaf killed in clash in southern Jolo,

July 4, 2003, The Philippine Star, Philippines: One soldier, five Abu Sayyaf killed in clash in southern Jolo,

Zamboanga City: A soldier and five members of the Abu Sayyaf kidnapping gang were killed in a clash in the southern island of Jolo, military officials said yesterday. One soldier was killed when he stepped on an Abu Sayyaf land mine in the clash near Patikul town on Wednesday [3 July], Jolo military chief Brig-Gen Alexander Aleo said. Soldiers also saw the bandits dragging away five of their comrades, Aleo added.

Meanwhile, four soldiers were wounded in another encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits in the upland village of sitio Marangan in Barangay Tagasilay, east of Zamboanga City. Soldiers aboard an M35 military truck were ambushed by the Abu Sayyaf at 3:45 p.m. [local time] Wednesday. The soldiers were on their way to reinforce an ongoing pursuit operation when the Abu Sayyaf bandits sprung their ambush, army 1st Division chief Gen Triponio Salazar said. The military said the bandits suffered undetermined casualties as a result of the brief firefight that erupted before the bandits were able to escape into the jungle.

City social welfare officer Francisco Baredo said the new encounter has triggered a mass evacuation of villagers from Marangan. Baredo said at least 276 families have fled the area and are temporarily sheltered in the Tagasilay Elementary School. Hundreds of families were also displaced from the villages of Sibulao and Calabasa since the military launched its offensive against the Abu Sayyaf.

The military reported that 60 Abu Sayyaf bandits arrived in the area sometime in May and beheaded three Christian villagers, whom the bandits seized and used as guides before they were decapitated.

The Abu Sayyaf have reportedly merged forces with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The Abu Sayyaf is a small group of Islamic militants wanted for a spate of bombings and kidnappings mostly targeting Christians and foreigners in Mindanao. It is deemed a terrorist organization by both Manila and Washington. The Abu Sayyaf has also been linked to the Al-Qa'idah network of Saudi billionaire Usamah bin-Ladin.