ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines, 6 February 2008 — The military yesterday ordered an investigation into the killing of eight people in supposedly fierce clashes between security forces and Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern province of Sulu.
Seven of those killed in the town of Maimbung were civilians — one pregnant woman and two other adults, two children and two teenagers — and an army soldier who was on a break.
Security officials said troops, tracking down a kidnapped trader Rosalie Lao, clashed at dawn Monday with alleged Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya militants in the village of Ipil where the eight bodies had been found later in the day.
Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael, commander of an anti-terror task force in Sulu province, said two soldiers and three militants, including an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Abu Muktadil, were killed in the fighting.
“It was a legitimate encounter. As far as we are concerned, troops clashed with the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya. We have recovered the bodies of Muktadil,” he said, adding, they were also investigating whether the slain civilians were killed in the cross-fire or not.
It was not immediately known whether the 45-year-old trader is being held in Maimbung town. Lao, who buys and sells Malaysian goods, was kidnapped Jan. 28 outside her home in Jolo town.
a village leader, Rahsi Agas, has accused troops of killing the civilians. “They were just seaweed farmers and not members of the Abu Sayyaf,” he said.
He said some of those killed were shot at sea while escaping the fighting on boat.
Those killed were identified as Marisa Payian, 4; Wedme Lahim, 9; Alnalyn Lahim, 15; Sulayman Hakob, 17; Kirah Lahim, 45; Eldisim Lahim, 43; Narcia Abon, 24; all civilians and Pfc. Ibnul Wahid, of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
Provincial government officials led by Gov. Sakur Tan condemned the killings and said they will file criminal charges against those involved in the raid.
The Provincial Legislative Council also passed a resolution condemning the killings.
“Innocent civilians were killed. The children were shot in the head. We condemn the killings and those soldiers involved in the murder of innocent people must be charged in court and pay for their crimes,” Tan said.
The Philippine flags were flown at half-mast in Sulu province yesterday to mourn the death of the civilians.
The fighting erupted barely a week before US and Philippine troops are to begin joint humanitarian and medical missions in Sulu, about 950 kilometers south of Manila, as part of the Balikatan, which means “shoulder-to-shoulder,” the codename for the annual joint anti-terror training.
