Abu Sayyaf bandits massacre 21 civilians in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY (UPDATED) - Suspected Abu Sayyaf Group members killed 21 people, including children, and wounded eight others in an ambush in Talipao, Sulu on Monday morning.

Capt. Ma. Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson of the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command, the victims on board two vehicles were being escorted by 10 barangay police action team (BPAT) members when they were ambushed by an estimated 50 Abu Sayyaf bandits in Barangay Lower Talipao at around 8:30 a.m.

Muyuela said that according to local police, the victims were bound for the Talipao town proper to join the Eid'l Fit'r celebrations.

A total of 16 were killed during the ambush. Two children earlier included in the list of 13 wounded victims died in hospital.

"Two of the wounded children have died," said Brig. Gen. Martin Pinto, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade.

By late Monday, Muyuela came out with a statement saying three more wounded children have also died.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman, meanwhile, strongly condemned the attack describing it as a “senseless act, especially that it happened on the day Muslims' culmination of the end of the month-long fast and celebrate the Eid'l Fitr.”

Muyuela said that the injured victims were brought to the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).

She said that the bandits immediately withdrew after some of the BPAT escorts fired back at them.

“The police in the province were investigating the motive of the ambush incident,” Muyuela said.

She said that based on initial field reports, the responsible Abu Sayyaf group was led by certain Idding Susukan and Sibih Pisih.

Pursuit operations were ongoing as of this posting.