ZAMBOANGA: Abu Sayyaf insurgents killed six soldiers in the southern Philippines yesterday despite a new army offensive against the Al Qaeda-linked group, a military spokeswoman said.
The soldiers were patrolling in the strife-torn island of Basilan when they were attacked by about 20 heavily-armed fighters.
Regional military spokeswoman Captain Rowena Muyuela said there were also “most likely... undetermined casualties on the Abu Sayyaf side”.
The incident came despite a military offensive that was launched over the weekend against the Abu Sayyaf in the island of Jolo, 129km from Basilan.
On Saturday, troops battled about 60 Abu Sayyaf fighters in Jolo and used helicopter gunships to blast their positions, the military said.
Troops were still pursuing the extremists in Jolo, Muyuela said.
She said soldiers on the ground in both Basilan and Jolo had reported casualties among the Abu Sayyaf but could give no exact figures.
President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman Herminio Coloma said in Manila that the military had launched their offensive on Aquino’s orders.
“We launched this operation so we can put a halt to the actions of this bandit group that has been sowing fear and bloodshed among our people,” he said.
AFP
