Marines foil Abu attack

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Followers of slain Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad attacked on Tuesday night a Marine detachment at the boundary of Indanan and Maimbung towns in Sulu, the military said.

However, the Marines thwarted the attack, which was apparently in retaliation for the death of Parad and five of his followers during a special operation last Sunday.

Among those killed was Abdulhaman Jumdail, brother of Abu Sayyaf leader Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu Pula. A Marine, S/Sgt. Eliseo Salo, was killed and three others were wounded in the surgical military strike.

“No casualty was reported from our side as our forces have been alerted and have anticipated the possible retaliatory attack,” said Brig. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, chief of the anti-terror Task Force Comet.

However, following Tuesday night’s incident the Marines have further beefed up their security measures to foil more direct attacks by Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Guerrero said they are now focusing on the group of Jumdail as they now consider Parad’s group as a spent force.

He disclosed that in last Sunday’s offensive Jumdail’s group was just near the hideout of Parad’s forces on Mt. Tukay in Indanan town.

Jumdail’s men, he said, tried to reinforce Parad’s group but were prevented as government troops had positioned themselves along all possible routes.

The Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command clarified that Parad was carrying a bounty of $1 million, not $80,000.

Meanwhile, Salo was given a hero’s welcome at the Marine headquarters in Taguig City yesterday.

Salo’s body was flown from Zamboanga City to Manila to allow the Marine Corps to pay their last respects to their fallen comrade.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said more than a hundred sailors and Marine personnel led by Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez and Marine Corps commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban attended the ceremony.

“Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez condoles with the family of Staff Sergeant Salo. He vows the Navy will sustain its Fleet-Marine operations to rid the island-province of bandit and terror groups,” Arevalo said.   

Arevalo said Salo will be posthumously promoted to technical sergeant and will receive a wounded personnel medal, which is given to soldiers who sustained injuries during actual combat.

Salo’s family will also receive P250,000 in financial assistance from President Arroyo and P15,000 in burial assistance.

“His (Salo) family will benefit from his pension. His contributions to all savings and loan associations will also be refunded,” Arevalo said in a telephone interview.

Arevalo said Salo’s body will be flown to Cagayan Valley, where he will be buried. – With Alexis Romero