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Aerial bombardment kills 14 Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Sulu –military


Aerial bombardment and shelling of known Abu Sayyaf positions in Sulu province in the past days have resulted in the death of 14 terrorists, the military claimed Thursday.

"There is an estimated 14 Abu Sayyaf members who were killed as a result of the bombardments of the 105 mm howitzers for the past five days," Col. Noel Detoyato, chief of the Armed Forces' public information office, said in a press briefing.

The bombardments were conducted in known Abu Sayyaf bailiwicks in Patikul and Talipao towns.

Detoyato said the military launched the operations on Saturday amid threats by the Abu Sayyaf to behead one of the four hostages it seized from Samal Island last year if authorities fail to deliver P300 million in ransom for each of them.

A Canadian, 68-year-old John Ridsdel, was eventually beheaded by the terrorist group after the deadline for the payment of ransom lapsed on Monday.

His death prompted President Benigno Aquino III to order an intensified campaign against the Abu Sayyaf.

No body count

Detoyato said information about the killing of the 14 terrorists was based on reports received by the military’s Western Mindanao Command from civilians.

"This 14 killed, based on reports from civilians, is for further validation from other sources," he said as he admitted that operating government troops have not recovered any bodies.

Aside from those seized from Samal Island, the Abu Sayyaf, a small band of Islamic fundamentalists, is also holding 14 Indonesian and four Malaysian tugboat crewmembers abducted in three separate incidents off Tawi-Tawi. —KBK, GMA News

Tags: abusayyaf, sulu
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