2 Marines killed in Sayyaf ambush in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Suspected al-Qaeda-linked militants attacked a Marine patrol yesterday morning in Patikul, Sulu killing two Marines and wounding another.

The latest ambush took place near a captured Abu Sayyaf mountain base at Barangay Tugas, where the US Pacific Commander, Adm. Timothy Keating, visited last month in a show of support for the US-backed Philippine troops.

Barangay Tugas was formerly an Abu Sayyaf stronghold where former leader Khaddafy Janjalani was killed September of last year.

Maj. Eugene Batara, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the attackers as Abu Sayyaf members led by a certain Jul Asbi and believed to be under the command of Radulan Sahiron.

The Marines lost two firearms, likely carted away by the Abu Sayyaf following the attack.

Batara disclosed that a seven-man unit under the 5th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) was deployed to conduct route security when they were ambushed by at least 50 Abu Sayyaf.

“The outnumbered Marines scampered for position but two of the soldiers were fatally hit,” Batara said.

However, the Marines managed to return fire and extricate the remains of their two comrades.

There was no immediate report of casualty from the rebel group that staged the attack.

Col. Nathalio Ecarma, 3rd Marine Brigade commander, said the incident was part of the operation against the same group they have been hunting down in Patikul. – With James Mananghaya, AP