!5 Philippine Marines killed in clashes with Abu Sayyaf

THis is from the Manila Bulletin. Interesting that the helicopter was US provided. I guess they give their used or excess equipment to the PHilippines. More jobs for US defence industry. The war on terror pays globally. Strafing and bombing on Muslim territory will hardly win hearts and minds.
The groups the AFP are fighting, apparently together with some US backup, are just a few hundred. It is amazing the group manages to survive and inflict so many casualties. This group is absolutely miniscule compared to the main groups of NPA and Moro liberation separatists.

15 Marines, 40 rebels killed in Basilan clash



By ARIS R. ILAGAN

At least 55 persons, including 15 soldiers of the Philippine Marines, were killed yesterday in a clash between government troopers and heavily armed Abu Sayyaf Group elements in Ungakay Pukan, Basilan after almost two weeks of lull in fighting in the area, reports reaching Camp Crame in Quezon City said.


Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, AFP public information office chief, said that according to field reports, 40 of the fatalities were Abu Sayyaf elements — including two terrorist leaders identified as Umair Indama, alias "Abu Jihad," and a certain "Barada." Six of the bodies were retrieved by government troopers.

Citing intelligence reports from Basilan, Bacarro said that Indama was among those involved in the beheading of 10 Marine troopers in Barangay Guinantan, Albarkah, Basilan last July 10.

At least 130 Abu Sayyaf members and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels are now being hunted by military and police elements in Sulu and Basilan after court authorities issued warrants for their arrest in connection with the July 10 incident in Albarkah.

Bacarro said that 15 soldiers were killed while nine others were seriously wounded when heavy fighting occurred at Sitio Kurellem, Barangay Silangkum in Ungakay Pukan, Basilan.

The firefight between elements of the 64th Force Reconnaissance Company and Force Recon Class 11 and at least 70 Abu Sayyaf members started at about 6:25 a.m., military reports said.

Reports from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) based in Zamboanga City said that the leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group that figured in a firefight with Marine troopers was led by a certain Furuji Indama. Umair, who was among those killed in the first volley of gunfire, was a brother of Furuji Indama, reports added.

"The (offensive) operation was undertaken in coordination with the local government units and MILF in the area," Bacarro said.

"AFP troops are now concentrating in the area. AFP will press the fight," he said. As of press time, heavy fighting was still ongoing with helicopter gunships and OV10 Bronco bomber planes providing air support to the ground troops conducting pursuit operations against the bandits.

"The Marines’ display of unwavering gallantry in this government initiated engagement is commendable. In the face of danger, they did not waiver in their dedication to accomplish their mission," Bacarro emphasized.


Air Force helicopter pilot dies in crash


A Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilot was killed while another junior officer was injured when their MG-520 attack helicopter crashed while on its way back to base after conducting straffing and bombing operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan yesterday afternoon, reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City said.

Reports identified the fatality as Lt. Udal Undo and the injured Air Force junior officer as Lt. Hermilino Calibran, co-pilot of the MG-520 attack helicopter.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said Undo and Calibran were flying their helicopter back to Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City when it developed engine problem and crashed at around 4:50 p.m.

Undo and Calibran were part of the Air Force team that provided air support to the Marine troopers who encountered a large band of heavily armed Abu Sayyaf bandits in a remote barangay in Ungakay Pukan, Basilan.

Lt. Gen. Horacio Tolentino, Air Force chief, denied speculations that the MG-520 was downed by enemy fire.

Tolentino said that MG520 pilots had radioed headquarters about feeling severe vibration on the helicopter’s auto rotation before the crash.

However, the Air Force chief said the crash would still be investigated.

The MG-520 attack helicopters were among the aircraft provided by the United States to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as part of the Excess Defense Articles program. (Aris R. Ilagan)