3,400 families displaced as gov't war vs Sayyaf

ZAMBOANGA CITY — At least 3,400 families, or more than 17,000 persons, have been displaced by fighting between government troops and the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan province, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

The humanitarian organization released the data as six Abu Sayyaf fighters were killed and 11 soldiers wounded in fresh clashes Friday as the government pressed its offensive in Basilan and Sulu.

The ICRC said the past three weeks of almost daily shelling and air strikes have driven away civilians from the Basilan towns of Tipo-tipo, Al-Barka and Ungkaya Pukan. A number of civilians have also been wounded, it said.

Tipo-tipo Vice Mayor Ingatun Istarul said some of the displaced families are staying with relatives while others are housed in schools and barangay halls.

Meanwhile, Major Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, said in Basilan, fighting broke out around 6:30 a.m. Friday on Hill 490 in Barangay Poblacion, Tipo-Tipo. The clash left two Abu Sayyaf fighters under the command of Radzmil Jannatul, alias Abu Khubayb, dead and nine soldiers wounded.

Government troops also recovered a .50 caliber heavy machinegun. Around 8:50 a.m. Friday, a clash between soldiers and the Abu Sayyaf left four gunmen dead and two soldiers wounded in Barangay Langpas, Indanan. —