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July 18, 2006
Philippines: Islamists Kill Policeman
We reported that an Islamist, suspected of belonging to the terror group Abu Sayyaf, killed two policemen at the port of Zamboanga in Mindanao, in the southern Philippines on Sunday.
The Manila Times and AKI report that another Filipino policeman has been killed, this time on the island of Jolo in the maritime province of Sulu.
The policeman was stationed with colleagues at the predominantly Muslim town of Maimbung , on the south of Jolo island, when they were ambushed by suspected members of Abu Sayyaf, who were themselves disguised as military officers.
A resident told AKI: "We thought they were legitimate members of the army because they wore military uniform and were conducting a checkpoint. We were then shocked when they opened fire on the policemen."
The incident happened around 9 am local time this morning. One policeman was declared dead on the spot, and three others received several gunshot wounds. The injured were transported to the hospital at Jolo town, the capital of Sulu province.
Captain Jose Ritchie Pabilona, who is spokesperson for the army's Southern Command, said that the group who mounted the attack was led by Albader Parad.
Albader Parad is blacklisted by Washington and Manila. Like other Abu Sayyaf leaders, Umbra Jumdail Gumbahali and Radulan Sahiron and the chief of Abu Sayyaf, there is a high bounty on his head.
Last Sunday, an army officer was killed in Alat village, near Jolo town. On May 24 we reported that four soldiers were killed on Jolo in separate incidents, and on March 27 a grocery store was blown up, apparently by Abu Sayyaf working with Jemaah Islamiyah. Two people were killed and seven were injured in the attack.
From November 11 an insurgency was mounted by the one-armed, horse-riding local leader of Abu Sayyaf, Radullan Sahiron, in conjunction with rebels from the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front). Several soldiers and insurgents were killed in skirmishes on Jolo, and the insurgency only ended in January when Nur Misauri, the imprisoned leader of MNLF, brokered a truce.
According to the Manila Times, three soldiers have been killed this month on Jolo. One was heading home on a motorcycle when shot in the village of Kasalamatan, and two soldiers were ambushed in the village of Pakitul.
In June, troops dismantled a powerful bomb which had been planted near the Pitogo Elementary School in Kalingalang Kaluang.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at July 18, 2006 12:56 PM
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