Things don’t appear to be looking good for the fugitive jihadists, Janjalani, Patek, and Dulmatin. From Arab News: “Manila Sends More Troops to Troubled Island as Casualties Rise”
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military yesterday said it was sending more troops to the southern island of Jolo, where government casualties were mounting as militants continued to put up a fierce resistance.
Fighting on Wednesday raised the government casualties to 11 killed and 58 wounded since the military, aided by American advisers and technology, renewed an offensive in a costly bid to corner Abu Sayyaf militants led by Khadaffy Janjalani and Jemaah
Islamiyah operatives Umar Patek and Dulmatin in the troubled island.
Col. Allan Luga of the Armed Forces Operation Center said one battalion, or roughly 300 troops, from the elite Special Forces would be sent to Sulu to augment the five Marine battalions, three army battalions, and 92 Scout Ranger troops already there.
“We”re bringing in more soldiers to close the circle on the Abu Sayyaf,” Luga told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo, the main military headquarters in Manila. “They”re on the run and we”re trying to narrow the space available for them.”
Officials said the latest casualties included two soldiers killed and three wounded as an army unit clashed with about 40 Abu Sayyaf fighters under the command of Doktor Abu and Parad at Mount Tukay in Indanan town, on the western side of Jolo Island.
Troops recovered bomb components, food packs and personal belongings, including those of Doctor Abu, from the scene of battle, said field reports reaching the military”s Western Mindanao Command here in Zamboanga City.
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The military also said Janjalani and Patek were wounded in Monday”s clash. But Luga acknowledged that reports that the key militants were wounded unconfirmed “civilian reports.”
Despite the mounting casualties on the military side, Luga said: “We have the upper hand. In fact, since Aug. 1, these Abu Sayyaf have been trying to flee and evade the troops. That is the reason why they split into groups, so that the concentration of the
troops would be diverted. But, as I”ve said, we have employed a lot of soldiers in the area, so they are on the run.”
With small US commando teams providing intelligence to Philippine troops on the ground, Luga said he was confident the soldiers would soon corner senior Abu Sayyaf commanders.
There have been 20 encounters so far between government troops and the Abu Sayyaf, he said.
[…]
The US government is offering a $10-million bounty for Dulmatin’s capture and $1 million each for Janjalani and Patek.