Government troops hunt down Abu chief Sahiron

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  – Government troops were hunting down senior Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron who managed to escape after his camp was overrun by the Marines in Patikul, Sulu late last week, according to a military official.

Brig. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, commander of the anti-terror Task Force Comet said the troops were on combat mission against Sahiron, whose forces was tracked down in a camp in Sitio Kanbaddal, Barangay Panglayahan, Patikul town on Friday.

Guerrero said Sahiron escaped along with his followers dragging undetermined number of casualties but left behind sub-leader Juli Ingkit, who was killed and buried in a shallow grave within the camp vicinity.

The military believed that Sahiron escaped riding on his horse at the height of the fierce fighting, which left two Marines slightly wounded.

Sahiron, who is a one-armed Abu Sayyaf leader, is known among the Abu Sayyaf commanders as a horse rider.

“Our forces will not stop tracking down the Abu Sayyaf leader following all indicators that he was leaving behind,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero said there will be no ceasefire in their operation against the Abus even as Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Delfin Bangit gave a standing directive to intensify the offensive against the militants.      – Roel Pareño