Landmine wounds 2 soldiers in Sulu

Troops from the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion were pursuing Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Umbra Jumdail when they tripped over and triggered one of the landmines laid by the bandits in Barangay Marang, Indanan town Friday afternoon, Southern Command information chief Maj. Gamal Hayudini said.

The latest landmine attack brought the number of wounded to 29 soldiers and six others getting killed since the military launched the offensive against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu since Nov. 11.

The military reported that some 15 bandits were killed in the two-day ground offensive and air strikes in Mt. Tumatangis.

Hayudini said the aerial and ground assault forced about 150 Abu Sayyaf bandits and members of the Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG) to flee their jungle hideouts.

Troops from the 53rd Infantry Battalion immediately launched hot pursuit operations to outflank the retreating bandits.

"However, the group planted the withdrawal routes with landmines," Hayudini said.

Hayudini said anti-terror Joint Task Force Comet chief Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo ordered to continue the pursuit operations and drive out the rebels from their former positions.

Aleo warned the troops of landmines and booby traps laid down by the fleeing bandits.

Last week, nine soldiers were killed and 13 others were wounded in improvised landmine explosions. The landmines were planted by suspected communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Calinog town, Iloilo. — Roel Pareño