Cimatu predicts victory vs Sayyaf

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Victory over the remaining Abu Sayyaf bandits is at hand, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported yesterday.

The AFP said bandit casualties are on the rise as a result of the military operation dubbed "Operation Endgame."

The operation that may be the final military offensive to neutralize the bandits has been put into "high gear," AFP chief Gen. Roy Cimatu said.

"We will see victory in this offensive, but this is a very difficult operation," Cimatu said after he was given a testimonial parade and review at the AFP Southern Command (Southcom) headquarters prior to his retirement today.

Cimatu said that as of yesterday, reports he received disclosed that more than 20 Abu Sayyaf bandits have been killed since "Operation Endgame" resumed on Friday.

However, the military has also suffered losses, with eight soldiers, two of them Muslim integrees, killed by the bandits. One of the fatalities was reported to have been decapitated.

"The big start of this campaign was that the soldiers started Operation Endgame with a big score (over) the Abu Sayyaf," Cimatu said. "I would not be surprised (if) the casualty (rate) will go (over) the 20 Abu Sayyaf killed."

Most of the bandits reported killed were those seriously wounded in the Friday encounter, he said.

"Operation Endgame is a difficult military operation. This will be a long and difficult operation, as there will be ups and downs," Cimatu said during a hospital visit to nine soldiers wounded in the encounter. "Blood will flow."

Fourteen other soldiers were also wounded since the operation began.

Cimatu awarded the wounded soldiers with medals and promotions in rank. He also told the soldiers they would receive financial aid of P20,000 to P50,000 each from the President’s Social Fund.

Southcom chief Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina said one of the bandits wounded in the course of "Operation Endgame" was Abdulmuin Sahiron, nephew of Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron.

The younger Sahiron led a band that kidnapped six Jehovah’s Witness evangelists and beheaded two of the hostages. The remaining hostages were reportedly turned over to the Abu Sayyaf and are being used as human shields by the hunted bandits.

Carolina said the reports of the younger Sahiron’s death came from the village leaders of Patikul town in Sulu, where the Abu Sayyaf fled to evade the government dragnet.