7 Abus killed in Sulu clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Marines killed seven Abu Sayyaf terrorists during a raid on their hideout in an island near Jolo yesterday.

Two of the dead were women, according to Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command chief.

A Marine was wounded in the amphibious assault that failed to capture Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, a Malaysian whom the military believes took part in the terrorist bombings in Bali, Indonesia in 2002.

The wounded Marine was evacuated to a command ship with two doctors, according to Dolorfino.

Marwan, a US-trained engineer carries a $5-million bounty from the US government.

Brig. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Joint Task Force Comet commander, said Marines in rubber boats landed in Laminusa island and raided a row of houses on stilts by the seashore that were fortified by bunkers.

“There were sandbags on the pathways,” he said. “We are thankful that only one of us was hit.”

Guerrero said the pre-dawn operation started at 3 a.m. and lasted for two hours.

The military has received information that the Abu Sayyaf band of Abu Benhur alias Boy Tondo has been coddling Marwan, he added.

Guerrero said Benhur was believed to be planning a series of kidnappings and bombings to disrupt the presidential elections on May 10.

The military was checking whether Benhur was among those killed in the attack, he added.

Marines recovered four M16 rifles, five Garands, two Browning automatics, one M14, one FN FAL Belgian-made assault rifle, 1 M79, and 1 M203 tube, Guerrero said. — With Alexis Romero