Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza said troops have reported more than 30 rebels killed and a number of them wounded as the fighting continued a second day in Panamao town.
The military said 19 soldiers have been killed since Monday as two MG-520 helicopter gunships were deployed to augment troops in the area. Initial reports said 21 soldiers had been wounded in the clashes.
Reports identified two of the soldiers killed as Sgts. Ruel Petilune and Carlos Valderama.
The military said 13 soldiers were killed in an ambush in Patikul on Monday while another was slain during fighting in Panamao town.
The same day, two Muslim soldiers who were rebuilding a mosque as part of a civic project were killed in an attack in Parang, Brig. Gen. Agustin Dema-ala said.
Dema-ala, commander of Task Force Comet going after the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo, said there were also reports of rebel casualties.
The fighting started when at least 400 Misuari supporters attacked several military detachments near Panamao, where Abu Sayyaf bandits have allegedly sought refuge.
Armed Misuari supporters either encircled or occupied an Army company detachment in Barangay Siit in Panamao and seized a nearby hospital, which has since been retaken by troops, military officials said.
Dema-ala claimed the Misuari supporters were forced to occupy the hospital to give first aid to their wounded comrades. He added the rebels sustained an undetermined number of casualties.
"It was also monitored that one of their two leaders was among those wounded inside the hospital," he said.
Dema-ala identified the leaders of the attacking rebels as Ustadz Bashir and Ustadz Habir.
Dema-ala said Misuari supporters apparently thought they were being targeted as part of a massive military operation launched last week against the Abu Sayyaf.
Military officials said they believe the Misuari faction has received help from the Abu Sayyaf.
Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza said Misuari supporters are now using the clashes to pressure the government into transferring their jailed leader to a detention center in Jolo.
"They want him to be tried there," Braganza said.
Misuari was formerly the chief of the separatist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which signed a peace treaty with the government in September 1996. He later became governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), until he was dislodged in November 2001.
Misuari was later arrested and detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna after leading a failed revolt in Zamboanga City to protest his sacking in 2001.
Many of his armed followers still maintain a stronghold in Jolo. They have been accused of supporting the Abu Sayyaf, a group linked by the Philippine and US governments to the al-Qaeda terror network of Osama bin Laden.
Braganza said fighting has not escalated in Sulu, saying the situation is contained within certain areas.
"It has not escalated. The center of action is now in the vicinity in Barangay Siit, Panamao. That’s why I ordered a bombing operation (yesterday) morning... We will continue this operational activity if necessary," he said.
Braganza dismissed reports that the military initiated the fighting after troops reportedly barged into the house of a family of Misuari supporters and killed them while pursuing Abu Sayyaf bandits.
"That’s the claim, (but) there is no truth to that. It is the offshoot of our operation against the Abu Sayyaf," he said.
Braganza said they will not negotiate with Misuari supporters to cease the conflict.
"We will continue the offensive operation. If they will ask for (a ceasefire), we will give it. But at the moment we will continue the punitive action," Braganza said.
Dema-ala, on the other hand, urged Misuari’s followers to stop the attacks, stressing they are not the target of military offensives in the province.
Military officials said they are now coordinating with ranking political leaders in the province and enlisting the help of the mainstream Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to "contain" fighting in the area.
"We are trying to contain the situation here by coordinating with the ranking political leaders and mainstream MILF group leaders," Braganza said.
"We are ready militarily, we will continue with our operations," Dema-ala added.
Jolo Gov. Ben Loon, for his part, said he was flying from Manila to his province to help negotiate a halt to the fighting.
Braganza added crisis teams from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the military have been deployed to assist civilians displaced by the clashes.
Western Mindanao police chief Director Vidal Querol said police have been directed to secure government offices, including the Zamboanga City Hall, "to prevent a possible spillover and deter rebels from attacking the establishments and taking hostages from there."
Misuari had led his followers in taking over 100 people, including children, hostage in Zamboanga City in November 2001 before managing to escape.
The erstwhile MNLF chairman was captured in Malaysia a year later and repatriated to Manila to face charges of rebellion.
Querol said alert levels have been raised in the areas as part of security operations. "We will see to it that the government offices and the citizenry are protected, so that there will be no spillover," he said.
Malacañang warned yesterday followers of Misuari that their rash action would not force government’s hand to transfer his place of detention.
"If they do that, the more it will not happen if they pursue that means to achieve their goal. Our request to them is if they want to help their countrymen in Sulu, the only way to do this is to have peace in that area," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.
Bunye added that the ongoing clashes in Sulu would not affect the ongoing peace efforts with the MILF.
Lawmakers, for their part, called on the police and military to arrest Misuari supporters launching the attacks.
Leyte Rep. Eduardo Veloso and Davao del Sur Rep. Douglas Cagas said Misuari’s loyalists should be considered terrorists for initiating the attacks.
Cagas claimed Misuari followers have definitely received help from the Abu Sayyaf. "The (Misuari) faction can now be considered as terrorists because of their alliance with the Abu Sayyaf, which is on the international terror list," he said. — With Christina Mendez, Marichu Villanueva, AFP