Soldiers pursue Sayyaf men in Sultan Kudarat

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — For two days now, soldiers have been tracking down 30 or more Abu Sayyaf members who have reportedly showed up at the boundary of Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat and Surallah, South Cotabato and have mingled with local secessionist forces there.

The Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, in a report to the 6th Infantry Division here, said there have been persistent reports from villagers that the Tausog-speaking Abu Sayyaf men are led by Isnilon Hapilon, a lieutenant of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadafy Janjalani and long wanted for heinous offenses.

Intelligence sources have confirmed that Hapilon and his followers arrived in Palimbang about a week ago, met with commanders of the Abu Sofia kidnapping gang and subsequently, headed to the Sultan Kudarat-South Cotabato boundary.

In another development, security forces clashed with at least 20 Abu Sayyaf men, led by Radulan Sahiron, in Patikul, Sulu last Friday, the military said.

Maj. Bartolome Bacarro, deputy information chief of the Armed Forces Southern Command, said elements of the First Marine Reconnaissance team encountered Sahiron’s group while they were patrolling Barangay Salihis.

A Marine, T/Sgt. Roberto Gonzalez, was wounded in the 30-minute firefight. — With Roel Pareño