Army using hi-tech gadgets to track down Abus in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Government troops are now using a modern equipment in tracking down the Abu Sayyaf militants holding captive Red Cross volunteer Italian Eugenio Vagni in Sulu, a senior military official said yesterday.

The hi-tech technique employed by the Marine Commandos have already resulted to its third successful raid against the group of Albader Parad and Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu Pula Saturday dawn, that left four confirmed killed militants and many others wounded at the vicinity that border Mt. Tukay and BarangayPaugan in Parang town.

Two of the Marine Commando members were wounded, however, very slightly when they raided the unsuspecting group of Parad and Jumdail, according to Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, chief of the joint Task Force Comet – the anti-terror military unit running after the Abu Sayyaf. “During the raid many of the Abu Sayyaf members were asleep, the others were cooking and some were resting on their jungle hammock.

Four of the enemies were killed instantly and undetermined number of casualties were inflicted and dragged away,” Sabban said. He said the raid was swift to prevent the Abu Sayyaf from establishing counter attack. Sabban said it was their third series of raid since June 11, where under their count, the Abu Sayyaf have already suffered about 30 casualties as they adopted the commando type of attacks.

He also said the technique still aimed to rescue Vagni, who remained captive for more than five months now since he and two of his colleagues in the International Committee of the Red Cross were abducted on Jan. 15 in Patikul town.

Vagni’s companions – Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba and Swiss Andreas Notter – were freed separately in April. “The troops are employing the commando type movement and were using more modern equipment in tracking down the Abu Sayyaf,” Sabban said.

Sabban said they have also patterned the movements of the Abu Sayyaf main group who have been limited to two areas. He said part of the tracking was the US military intelligence information as part of their assistance and training to their local counterparts. Sabban said the main group of the Abu Sayyaf is not tagging along with them the captive Italian.

“He is being hidden by another small group. Wala siya sa main body,” Sabban added.