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November 12, 2005
Philippines: Four Killed in Battles With Islamists
A report from Monsters & Critics states that four Filipino marines have been killed in fighting between the military and Abu Sayyaf rebels on the southern island of Jolo. Nineteen others were wounded.
The fighting began late on Friday and continued through until Saturday in the town of Indanan, according to Marine commander Colonel Juancho Sabban. The Islamists suffered casualties, but the figure is unknown at present. Troop reinforcement have been sent into the region.
According to Brigadier General Alexander Aleo, the marines had been patrolling near the village of Buwansa when they were ambushed by about 300 rebels, headed by the one-armed Sahiron Raddulan, a senior commander of Abu Sayyaf.
According to Reuters AlertNet, states that Sahiron has a bounty on his head of 5 million pesos, or $92,000. According to Radio Australia, the Abu Sayyaf rebels suffered about a dozen casualties. Villagers witnessed the rebels dragging away bodies of dead and injured fighters.
We mentioned earlier how Sahiron is known in the island as "Robin Hood" among villagers, because he is said to divide some of his spoils with his civilian supporters, and because he rides upon a horse. He is said to have personally decapitated soldiers, and also civilian "collaborators" from the island.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 12, 2005 12:23 PM
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