Abu Sayyaf ambush taints ARMM's peaceful Eid celebration

ISABELA CITY, Basilan - The Muslim community peacefully welcomed the celebration of Eid’l Fitr in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) amid the ambuscade staged by the Abu Sayyaf in a village of Talipao town, Sulu.

Chief Superintendent Noel delos Reyes, ARMM police regional director, said there was no single stray bullet incident reported since Monday as the Muslim community welcomed the end of the observance of the Ramadan.

“Except for the Sulu incident, there is report of anyone hit by stray bullet,” Delos Reyes said noting that some of the Muslim villagers in the far flung areas in ARMM region traditionally fire their guns to signal revelry.

Although, Delos Reyes, said the local government units and the police authorities in the respective areas of the Muslim region have discouraged villagers to avoid firing their guns to prevent harm and untoward incident.

The ARMM police director said police personnel remained in intensifying the security as the feast of Eid’l Fitr continued to avert possible sabotage and secure innocent civilians following the ambush last Monday that killed 23 villagers, mostly female and children and wounded eight others. 

Delos Reyes said investigation continues to determine if the ambush perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf was related to the celebration of the Eid’l Fitr.