Death toll in Sulu reaches 20

Rappler.com

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(UPDATED) 4 MNLF members are beheaded, the military says

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) – The death toll in the ongoing gunfight between members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu has reached 20, forcing hundreds of families to flee to safer ground, a police official said Monday, February 4.

Senior Supt Antonio Freyra, provincial police commander of Sulu, told a local radio station the Abu Sayyaf members also beheaded 4 MNLF members in Patikul town.

Freyra said among those killed were 7 MNLF members and 13 Abu Sayyaf. “The fighting is going on and hundreds of civilians have already evacuated,” he said.

In a press statement, AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos confirmed that at least 4 of the casualties were beheaded by the ASG. “One of the casualties was identified as Wahab Omar and 4 of those killed MNLF members were beheaded while 4 firearms were seized by the ASG,” Burgos said.

Burgos said troops from the 2nd Marine Brigade have “contained” the situation in Patikul and troops were deployed to prevent a spillover of the clash.

“The situation is now under control and AFP troopers are now working closely in assisting the municipal government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development in addressing Internally Displaced Persons from MNLF families near Barangay Kabuntakas, Patikul, Sulu,” he said.

About 60 families were displaced due to the fighting.

The hostilities began on Saturday night, February 2, following the release of two Filipino kidnap victims that night. Rolando Letrero and Ramelito Vela were freed from the Abu Sayyaf camp in Patikul town but the victims’ companion, Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani, remains a captive.

On Sunday, February 3, authorities said 10 MNLF members were killed in the clash

The MNLF was reportedly in talks with the ASG, led by its senior leader Radullan Sahiron, for the release of Atyani and his Filipino crew. The 3 were declared missing in June 2012 after they left their hotel in Jolo to interview members of the ASG.

The MNLF, which signed a final peace agreement with the Ramos government, has been helping in the release of Abu Sayyaf hostages.

Apart from Atyani, Abu Sayyaf gunmen are also holding European tourists Elwold Horn, 52, from Holland, and Lorenzo Vinciguerra, 47, from Switzerland.

In February last year, Vinciguerra and Horn, both museum staffers in their respective countries and are involved in animal conservation, and their Filipino guide Ivan Sarenas, were reportedly abducted by 5 armed men off Tawi-Tawi. 

Serenas managed to escape. – Rappler.com



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