Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Philippines attacks leave 15 dead
9:18 AM | 
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ISABELA: Al Qaeda-linked militants in police uniforms set off bombs and fired at civilians on a strife-torn Philippine island Tuesday in violence that left 15 people dead, officials said.
The gunmen targeted a government office and a church in Isabela city on Basilan island with two home-made bombs, in the latest show of force from the Abu Sayyaf network that is blamed for the worst attacks in the Philippines.
"I think (the attack) is to meant to create havoc... definitely it falls under terrorism," Major General Juancho Sabban, head of the Philippine Marines, told reporters in Manila.
Isabela city mayor Cherry Akbar told reporters that 15 people were confirmed dead, including five militants who were apparently killed by one of their own bomb blasts.
Six civilians were also killed in the explosions, while three soldiers and one policemen were killed in gunbattles with the militants, Akbar said.
At least 25 militants wearing police uniforms were involved in the attacks, according to the region's military chief, Lieutenant General Ben Dolorfino.
They sprayed bullets at terrified civilians scrambling away to safety, and engaged in a gunbattle with security forces on the outskirts of Isabela that lasted for at least three hours, according to various military chiefs.
"We have to take control and assure the people that we are on top of the situation," Sabban said as the fighting was ongoing.
"All we know right is that our Marines right now are under fire."
Hundreds of US troops have been stationed on Mindanao since the end of 2001 to train and equip the Filipino military to combat the Abu Sayyaf.
Their arrival came after a series of Abu Sayyaf-led abductions, including the kidnapping of three Americans from a southwestern Philippine island resort.
Two of the US hostages were killed, one of whom was beheaded.
US help has led to the deaths of senior Abu Sayyaf leaders and the Philippine military says the group now has only about 300 active militants, down from about 1,000 a decade ago.
However they have proved an enduring threat.
The country's police chief, Jesus Verzosa, warned last month the Abu Sayyaf was increasingly using improvised bombs in its attacks.
On Tuesday, the first bomb went off about 10:30 am (0230 GMT) outside an education department building near a high school sports grandstand, provincial police chief Antonio Mendoza said in Isabela.
He said the second, rigged to a motorcycle left near a Roman Catholic cathedral, went off minutes later as security forces chased after the suspects.
"It heavily damaged the church," Mendoza said.
"The men were shooting at civilians as they fled towards a forested area."
Other recent attacks blamed on the Abu Sayyaf include a landmine blast that wounded three Filipino soldiers on Basilan last month.
Two roadside bombs killed a Filipino soldier and wounded 12 other people in near-simultaneous attacks also on Basilan island in February.
The gunmen targeted a government office and a church in Isabela city on Basilan island with two home-made bombs, in the latest show of force from the Abu Sayyaf network that is blamed for the worst attacks in the Philippines.
"I think (the attack) is to meant to create havoc... definitely it falls under terrorism," Major General Juancho Sabban, head of the Philippine Marines, told reporters in Manila.
Isabela city mayor Cherry Akbar told reporters that 15 people were confirmed dead, including five militants who were apparently killed by one of their own bomb blasts.
Six civilians were also killed in the explosions, while three soldiers and one policemen were killed in gunbattles with the militants, Akbar said.
At least 25 militants wearing police uniforms were involved in the attacks, according to the region's military chief, Lieutenant General Ben Dolorfino.
They sprayed bullets at terrified civilians scrambling away to safety, and engaged in a gunbattle with security forces on the outskirts of Isabela that lasted for at least three hours, according to various military chiefs.
"We have to take control and assure the people that we are on top of the situation," Sabban said as the fighting was ongoing.
"All we know right is that our Marines right now are under fire."
Hundreds of US troops have been stationed on Mindanao since the end of 2001 to train and equip the Filipino military to combat the Abu Sayyaf.
Their arrival came after a series of Abu Sayyaf-led abductions, including the kidnapping of three Americans from a southwestern Philippine island resort.
Two of the US hostages were killed, one of whom was beheaded.
US help has led to the deaths of senior Abu Sayyaf leaders and the Philippine military says the group now has only about 300 active militants, down from about 1,000 a decade ago.
However they have proved an enduring threat.
The country's police chief, Jesus Verzosa, warned last month the Abu Sayyaf was increasingly using improvised bombs in its attacks.
On Tuesday, the first bomb went off about 10:30 am (0230 GMT) outside an education department building near a high school sports grandstand, provincial police chief Antonio Mendoza said in Isabela.
He said the second, rigged to a motorcycle left near a Roman Catholic cathedral, went off minutes later as security forces chased after the suspects.
"It heavily damaged the church," Mendoza said.
"The men were shooting at civilians as they fled towards a forested area."
Other recent attacks blamed on the Abu Sayyaf include a landmine blast that wounded three Filipino soldiers on Basilan last month.
Two roadside bombs killed a Filipino soldier and wounded 12 other people in near-simultaneous attacks also on Basilan island in February.
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