MikeLigalig.com

By Roel Pareño
The Philippine Star
www.philstar.com

Soldiers clashed with combined Abu Sayyaf and separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas Tuesday in the mountain village of Ungkaya Pukan town in Basilan province, leaving a heavy death toll on the enemy side, a military official said.

Two Marines were killed in the day-long encounter while six dead bodies of the combined enemy forces were recovered, according to Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of the Joint Task Force Thunder based in Basilan and concurrent deputy chief of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom).

He said the fighting started at 6:30 a.m. and dragged on until 8 p.m. Tuesday. Five Marines from the 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) were slightly wounded.

Sabban said the government troops encountered the combined forces of the Abu Sayyaf led by Furuji Indama and MILF leaders Abbas Sapanton and Commander Mudalam.

“We’re not at all lost, the six killed Abu Sayyaf and rebels were only the initial killed enemies on the ground but many more who were badly wounded have died,” Sabban said.

Private First Class Edison Tanisa, who was among the wounded military personnel, said they were conducting a dialogue with civilians when they were attacked by more than 200 rebels.

war again!