Landmine kills Marine officer

MANILA, Philippines - A Marine officer was killed, while his subordinate was wounded along with a civilian after being hit by a landmine planted by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Barangay Tugas in Patikul, Sulu yesterday, a military spokesman said.

Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, Navy spokesman, said in a report that the officer and his men in the 5th Marine Battalion were conducting combat patrol when the explosion happened at around 9 a.m.

The improvised explosive, he said, was planted in a cut-off water pipe.

The two Marines were rushed to Camp Teodolfo Bautista in Jolo but the officer was pronounced dead on arrival. Their identities were temporarily withheld pending notification of their families.

The enlisted man was reported to be in stable condition and was to be airlifted to Zamboanga City.

It was in Barangay Tugas where the Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani was killed two years ago during a Marine offensive.

This week, Abu Sayyaf bandits blew up a bridge and a cell site in Sulu.   – James Mananghaya, Roel Pareño