November 16, 2005, Inquirer News Service, Troops capture 2 Abu Sayyaf camps,

November 16, 2005, Inquirer News Service, Troops capture 2 Abu Sayyaf camps,

Editor's Note: Published on Page A2 of the November 16, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer 

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Government troops have captured two camps belonging to the Abu Sayyaf bandit group, but bad weather has slowed down the offensive against the fleeing gunmen that has cost the lives of at least four soldiers, the military said yesterday.

Troops pursuing the Abu Sayyaf and followers of jailed Moro leader Nur Misuari reported they recovered ammunition for rockets, mortars and grenade launchers from two camps in Indanan town on Jolo island late Monday.

One of the camps belonged to Misuari loyalists in Marang village and the other was a "forward base" of the Abu Sayyaf in Bud Kapuk, both in Indanan town.

The military yesterday released a revised casualty figure, reporting that four Marines had been killed and 12 other Marines and 10 Army soldiers had been wounded since a gun battle erupted late Friday followed by sporadic clashes in Marang village between government troops and a combined force of the Abu Sayyaf and the so-called Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG)

It had initially reported that seven soldiers were slain.

There were no encounters reported yesterday.

At least 17 Moro gunmen, including Abu Sayyaf leader commander Mammah, were killed, the military said basing its figures on radio intercepts and ground reports.

But Southern Command spokesperson Colonel Domingo Tutaan said no bodies were found at the Abu Sayyaf camp, only bloodstained backpacks and personal belongings.

He said soldiers later destroyed several bunkers and trenches in the encampment.

Brigadier General Alexander Aleo, commander of the anti-terror Task Force Comet in Jolo, said heavy rains were affecting the offensive.

Aleo said the Abu Sayyaf gunmen were allegedly aided by followers of Misuari, who signed a peace accord with the government in 1996.

Armed Forces spokesperson Colonel Tristan Kison told reporters in Manila that the dense jungle of Jolo, where visibility is often limited to 10 meters, was also hampering the operation.

Lieutenant Colonel Pablo Lorenzo said the heavily fortified base in Bud Kapuk belonged to the group led by Umbra Jumdail, alias Doc Abu.

Lorenzo said the encampment had 15 bunkers, which could accommodate from 80 to 100 persons.

Col. Juancho Sabban, 3rd Marine Brigade commander, said the MBG camp belonged to the group of Khaid Adjibun, Misuari's chief of staff in Sulu province, and could hold up to 500 people.

In Cotabato City, MNLF chair Hatimil Hassan urged the military to halt the offensive, saying the fighting has already displaced at least 200 civilians.

A man and his wife were wounded by shrapnel, the only civilian casualties reported so far.

Hassan said he had sent emissaries to Sulu to convince Ustadz Habier Malik's group to stop the fighting.

Lt. Col. Mark Zimmer, public affairs officer of the Joint Special Operation Task Force Philippines (JSOTFP), said US soldiers conducting humanitarian work in the province would not be pulling out even as tensions mounted in Sulu.

Aleo said no US personnel were involved in the Indanan operation. At least 30 US servicemen have been in Sulu since last month. Julie S. Alipala and Jeoffrey Maitem, PDI Mindanao Bureau, with AP and AFP