7 slain Sulu boys were Abu Sayyaf – military

COTABATO CITY – The Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stands pat on its initial reports that the seven young men slain over the weekend in military operations in Patiluk, Sulu were combatants of the terror group Abu Sayyaf.

Interviewed by phone Sunday morning by The Manila Bulletin, Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Westmincom spokesman, said the military would even welcome an independent probe on the incident to establish the truth as demanded by local human rights groups led by the Suara (voice of) Bangsamoro.

Lt. Col. Besana described Saturday’s incident as a “legitimate military operation” where the seven rebels were slain, and six comrades including Abu Sayyaf local leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan were wounded along with 17 soldiers.

He said troops of the Task Group Panther under Lt. Col. Samuel Yunque and Capt. Michael Asistores of the Scout Rangers engaged more than 100 Abu Sayyaf men under Radulan Sahiron around 1:30 pm. Friday in a village in Patikul town.

In battles that ensued Saturday morning, both camps suffered casualties, according to initial military reports.

The Suara Bangsamoro disputed the military report, saying the incident was a “massacre” with seven young Tausogs as victims.

In its report published partly in another national daily, the Suara Bangsamoro mentioned a certain Mahmur Arul as a witness who said he saw the seven boys arrested by soldiers Friday. Their bodies were found riddled with bullets the following day at the headquarters of the Task Force Sulu.

Arula reportedly identified the victims as Makrub Diray, 25; Alpadal Diray, 16; Mijar Hairan and Basiluddin Hairani, 30; Issah Hamsan, 21; Benajal Tula and Maknun Sakirin, 22.

The seven fatalities were permitted Friday morning by the Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion stationed in Barangay Issan in Patikul town to harvest lanzones and durian in a nearby orchard farm, the Suara Bangsamoro said, citing Arula’s allegation.