TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, said that the government is in the process of confirming reports about the number of casualties in the battle beteen the Filipino military and the Abu Sayyaf armed group. Wiranto however, refused to provide further comment.
"There has been confirmation; we are still elaborating [the reports]. Before that, we will not speak," Wiranto said on Monday, August 29, 2016.
On Sunday, August 28, 2016, Filipino local media Inquirer.net reported that three Abu Sayyaf high-ranking officials were killed in a two days fire shootout in southern Philippines. Mayolargo de la Cruz, Chief of the West Mindanao Command forces said that the three victims were Mohammah Said, also known as Amah Maas; Sairul Asbang; and Abu Latip.
Meanwhile, as many as 17 members of the Filipino armed forces were injured in the clash that started on August 26, 2016. “The armed forces found ten bodies, including Said,” Cruz said.
A splinter of the main Abu Sayyaf group led by Said was the mastermind behind the abduction of three foreigners and a Filipino woman in the island of Samal on September 2015. The group was also believed to be responsible for the murder of two Canadian nationals John Ridsdel and Robert Hall.
Cruz confirmed that the military operation launched by Filipino armed forces will not threaten the lives of hostages held by the armed group. "We are very careful. In addition, we have intelligence information about the location of the hostages while we make our moves," Cruz said, while adding that Said had been listed as a fugitive for a long time.
Although they claimed to have killed three Abu Sayyaf top officials, the Filipino armed forces cannot find the remaining bodies. "[The bodies] were brought by some of the group's members who managed to escape," said Col. Edgard Arevelo, Chief of Public Relation Office of the Filipino Armed Forces on Sunday, August 28, 2016.
ARKHELAUS W. | INQUIRER | YOHANES PASKALIS
