ASG attack kills 3

Vinluan appealed to the entire Tausug Community not to succumb to the ASG’s desperate move of sowing fear among the people

Two government troops and a child were killed while another child was wounded following an attack staged by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists in Talipao, Sulu during the Muslim celebration of Eid’l Adha last Monday.

A report from the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) disclosed that an Army personnel from the 2nd Special Forces Battalion and a CAFGU Active Auxillary member were on board a motorcycle traversing the Patikul-Talipao road in Barangay Kagay, Talipao, Sulu when an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf terrorists fired upon them that morning.

The two died on the spot due to bullet wounds they sustained from the attack, while the incident also killed a two-year-old and injuring an 11-year-old child, who was taken to the Integrated Provincial Health Office.

The Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu under Major General Corleto Vinluan Jr., immediately dispatched troops to assist the family of the children.

“We are deeply saddened by this very unfortunate incident that killed two of our valiant personnel and an innocent child. We assure the families and friends of the victims that the JTF Sulu will do our best to ensure that the perpetrators of this treacherous act will be brought to justice. This blatant disregard for the spirit of Islamic festivities is a clear disrespect of the Islam teachings,” Vinluan said.

Vinluan appealed to the entire Tausug Community not to succumb to the ASG’s desperate move of sowing fear among the people.

“I urge the peace-loving Tausug people to strongly condemn this un-Islamic and treacherous act of the ASG,” Vinluan said.

Meanwhile, Western Mindanao Command chief, Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, said relatives of the victims and the Suluano community expressed their willingness to assist the law enforcers in tracking down the Abu Sayyaf and signified their commitment to hunt down ASG members entering their communities.

Sobejana, at the same time, condemed the deceitful act of the Abu Sayyaf, whom he said do not in any way represent the Islamic way of living.

“We would like to extend our sympathy to the bereaved families of the victims of the Sayyafs inhumane act. Rest assured all sorts of assistance will be provided as our simple way of commisseration,” Sobejana said.

Meanwhile, a government soldier was hurt in a separate incident after two successive explosions rocked Patikul, Sulu on Tuesday, which are again linked to the Abu Sayyaf’s doing.

Major Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the AFP-WestMinCom, said that the first explosion was believed to be from an improvised explosive device which exploded at vicinity of Tibongbong, Igasan, Patiku, Sulu at about 7:34 a.m., approximately 30 meters away from the road security site set-up by troops in the area.

The two died on the spot due to bullet wounds they sustained from the attack.

Later that morning, troops of the 13th Special Forces Company together with attached K9 team were conducting a search and clearing the area when another explosion occurred just 10 meters away from the initial explosion site.